Allometry of four european beech stands growing at the contrasting localities in small-scale area

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe and compare biometrical parameters (such as breast height diameter (DBH), tree height, length of a crown, leaf area index (LAI), xylem biomass) of trees of four forest stands growing at contrasting sites in the small-scale area of 30 km2 and to calculate and compare their allometrical models of these parameters on DBH. All forest stands were monocoenoses of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) more than 160 year old. We found statistically significant differences among the localities almost in all investigated parameters. Also proposed allometrical models were different. None of the simple allometrical models from the literature fit to all of the localities. Thus allometric models should be used only with respect to local site conditions such as soil and climatic conditions and level of competition among trees and not only with respect to certain geographic region.