Effect of delayed tending on development of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) pole stage stand

Abstract

The paper deals with assessment of the long-term experiment (45 years of investigation) in beech (Fagus
sylvatica L.) stand with delayed tending started at stand age of 60 years. The research was performed on four
partial plots by different methods of their management: (i) plot with heavy thinning from below (C degree
according to the German forest research institutes from 1902), (ii) plot with the free crown thinning (thinning
interval of 5 years), (iii) plot with the free crown thinning (thinning interval of 10 years) and (iv) control plot
(with no thinning). From qualitative point of view, the best results according to the number of target (crop)
trees were found on plots tended by the free crown thinning (thinning interval of 5 years), and the worst on
plots with heavy thinning from below and/or plot with no tending (control plot). Consequently, the results
showed lower number of target (crop) trees in comparison with our assumption and/or the model developed
for beech stands in the past. On the other hand, from quantitative point of view, the best results were achieved
on plot tended by heavy thinning from below, followed by the plot with the free crown thinning (thinning
interval of 5 years).