Preliminary results from simultaneous planting of Fagus sylvatica and pioneer species on calamity clearings

Abstract

We compared the biological and economic effects of simultaneous artificial regeneration of mixtures of pioneers (birch - Betula pendula Roth or aspen - Populus tremula L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) with plots of monospecific beech. During the period of two years, the height of young beech trees, their mortality, and the regeneration cost were analysed in the following treatments: monospecific beech (9 000 pcs.ha-1), monospecific beech (5 000 pcs.ha-1), beech/birch (5 000/2 500 pcs.ha-1) and beech/aspen (5 000/2 500 pcs.ha-1). Four plots (differing in soil and altitude) were established in the region of the Czech Republic in autumn 2021. The positive biological effect of these pioneers was detected only in the treatments where the initial planting stock of the pioneers was substantially higher than in that of beech (on average 39 cm vs. 100 cm, respectively). However, the expenses of simultaneous regeneration were about 15% lower compared to plots with monospecific beech in densities like 9 000 pcs.ha-1, and around 35% higher than in the monospecific beech plots with a density of 5 000 pcs.ha-1.

Keywords

• early growth
• european aspen
• nurse crop
• regeneration cost
• silver birch