Classification of trees and the effects of thinning in the artificially established spruce stand in the area of Sokolina-Kotor Varoš

Abstract

The classifications of trees are mainly based on descriptive (attributive) characters and they have a great significance in thinning. In forestry practice (tree marking for felling, forest inventory, etc) in the Republic of Srpska, the most frequently applied classifications are silvicultural-technical (UT) and technical classification of trees, which are based on the knowledge of tree species, stem diameter and stem quality. In IUFRO classification, based on the silvicultural role of trees, and in UT classification, the trees are classified in three categories. The knowledge and application of these classifications is especially significant in the management of artificially established stands. Economic losses in spruce plantations occur because of untimely tending, especially thinning, which has multiple adverse effects on tree quality. The aim of this paper is to point out the application and the relation of UT and IUFRO classifications, as well as the effect of thinning on tree quality structure in both classifications. The research was performed in a 29-years-old spruce plantation established in the belt of mixed forests of beech and fir. The silvicultural-technical and IUFRO classifications were performed and compared in the aim of their application in different thinning treatments (high thinning of light and moderate weight and mixed thinning of moderate weight). Taking into account the state of spruce plantations in the Republic of Srpska, the effect of thinning on stand quality structure was researched and UT classification of trees applied in practice was compared with IUFRO classification.

Keywords

• spruce
• tree classification
• thinning