Response of European beech radial growth to shelterwood cutting

Abstract

There were investigated possibilities of varying cutting intensities and cycles optimization within shelterwood system applied in beech stands growing in a suitable site conditions. The study was based on dendrochronological analysis of increments on radial discs taken from three different stem heights from sample trees representing the means for individual tree classes, selected on sample plots differing in cutting intensity (residual stocking 0.3-0.5-0.7 and control plot 0.9). The decrease in the stand density due to the cutting induced a significant radial growth increase in the sample trees, even in the advanced age (100 years). The decrease in stand stocking by 0.1 was reflected in a linear radial growth enhancement by on average 17%. The subdominant trees were best responding to the release (radial growth enhancement up to 200% after the heavy cut), followed by co-dominant and dominant trees (enhancement app. 45% and 25%). The period of the positive increment response depends on the cutting intensity, e.g. trees on the plot after heavy cut (stocking 0.3) showed a positive increment response over the whole 8 (7)-year period after the intervention across the whole stand profile, but trees on the plot after light cut (stocking 0.7) subjected to a light cut showed an increased increment only for 2-3 years, and no response was found in the subdominant trees.