SELECTED INTRODUCED FRUIT TREES IN FORESTRY [VYBRANÉ NEPŮVODNÍ OVOCNÉ DŘEVINY V LESNICTVÍ]

Abstract

Due to the climate change, pest proliferation and inappropriate species composition, the forests’ health is deteriorating. When new plantings are being planned, a care must be taken to carefully select suitable tree species in order to guarantee a resistance of the forest to adverse biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Besides native species, some introduced ones also appear to be promising; however, their introduction into forest mixtures must always be preceded by a thorough evaluation of their habitat requirements, resistance to pathogens, competitiveness and invasion potential. Fruit trees such as walnuts (both Persian and black), chestnut and Turkish hazel also belong to the species discussed in this context. The walnuts provide excellent timber, but their applicability can be limited by allelopathy. The chestnut might have difficulty to compete in a mixture. The most promising hazel shows a good tolerance with other species and also withstands extreme conditions.

Keywords

• introduction
• fruit trees
• forestry
• drought
• pests