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RESEARCH PROJECTS (1999 - 2004) Research projects of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic Silviculture in ecotopes damaged by anthropogenic activity The research is focused on solution of problems of regeneration and tending of forest in the areas where the anthropogenic influences on forest ecosystems occur. The project comprises five mutually connected subprojects with coordinated superstructure. Subproject Influence of environment on forest regeneration is solved in cooperation with above mentioned subprojects. Subproject 01Support of forest regeneration and restoration in biotopes changed and disturbed by human activities (coordinator F. Sach) Subproject 01 solves the problem of regeneration and silviculture with regard to the state of knowledge and amelioration of the site, especially in the mountainous areas. The research of close-to-nature protection ways is preferred. More details:
The results of long-time observation of introskeletal erosion on rock-fields approved everlasting broadcast attenuation of soil layer and increasing surface stoniness. Placing textile epithelium among stones, adding mineral earth (possibly mixed with rock meals) into planting holes brought better plant performance and higher increment (33 cm during 10 years) in comparing with control outplants without the described procedure. Chronic signs of site degradation by mechanized windrowing indicated by different performance of spruce outplants are being smoothed by Ascocalyx abietina disease. The influence of other stressors has been emerging, e.g. desiccation, troposphere ozone, etc. The height increment of spruce seedlings declines with increasing percentage of spruces with reduced foliage on the Big Rainy Mount plot research in the Eagle Mts. The percentage of spruces with reduced foliage under 50% ranges from 70 to 85% on additional fertilized plots and on control plots. A little better performance of spruce outplants (the percentage of spruces with reduced foliage under 50 % is about 60 %) brings biological amelioration by Alnus viridis and in the last year also a spruce young growth remedied by admixing limestone rock meal into holes at planting ten years ago. By bulldozing degraded localities were amended by spreading earth from windrows. Commercial, ameliorative, and stabilizing tree species then exhibited satisfactory performance and health stage on organic matter and nutrients enriched plots. Waterlogged sites demand cleaning creeks, spotty drainage, special mound planting for slopes, and rock meals into planting holes, and admixing mineral earth on peaty sites. The health stage of Betula alba differed from the health stage of Betula carpatica on the research plot Jizerka. The Betula alba proved 61 % of injured trees and Betula carpatica only 8 %. The afforestative plans were elaborated at investigation of afforestation and operation-research plantations were established on five localities. Outplants exhibit growth dynamics owned to single tree species. Investigation of support of hydrological functions of forests has refined up to 200 mm a potential maximum precipitation depth that a forest is able to transform in runoff without a vast storm flow damages.
Subproject 02Regeneration and conversion of management in forests ifluenced by anthropogenic and climatic change (coordinator S. Vacek) The subproject is focused on solution of selected problems concerning forest regeneration and reconstruction in regions impacted by anthropic and climatic changes. Special attention is paid to stabilizing and soil-improving species, such as beech, fir, maple, elm, and linden. Research plots are placed mainly in montane and submontane locations. More details:
The subproject involves following tasks: formation of species stand composition in specific sites according to growing conditions and required forest functions; natural and semi-natural regeneration of beech and mixed stands with beech; underplantings; difficult conversions of species composition in substitute tree species stands; methods of the close-to-nature forest management. The research results show positive effect of 3-year-old Alnus viridis plantations as "a nurse crop" upon interplanted Fagus sylvatica seedlings by climatic stress reduction and soil amelioration. Also, ecological cover of blue spruce trees positively influencing beech plantations in mountain ridges, strongly exposed to climatic stresses. Finely ground dolomitic limestone (applied into planting holes) on some broad-leaved species (beech, sycamore maple, elm) plantations in higher mountain localities. Plastic tubes application markedly supported Fagus sylvatica, Acer pseudoplatanus and Sorbus aucuparia transplant growth planted in mountain clearings. According to investigation results on permanent research plots, Fagus sylvatica natural regeneration progress requires parent stand opening on 70% and less.
Subproject 03 Establishment and silviculture of pine stands of the 1st age class in ecotopes damaged by anthropogenic activity (coordinator V. Narovec) The theme of subproject 03 is oriented on the bad health state and unsatisfied development of young pine stands and on specific problems in artificial regeneration of Scotch pine in the Czech Republic. A great deal of pine seedlings planted in forest nurseries suffer from growth anomalies (shrublet form of seedling habitus, increased growth of lateral branches at depressing the apical dominance of top shoots, frequent bicyclic growth of proleptic and Lammas shoots). More details:
The growth deformations due to growth of proleptic shoots represent the practical forestry problem also in the pine cultures in the period from 2 to 6 years after planting. The frequency of growth deformations in pine cultures can be influenced by seed origin and mainly by environmental conditions in the planting site. In the stands of the first age class (especially at 3 - 8-year old cultures), the average total losses after forestation caused by Armillaria mellea s. l. reach 1,300 pieces per ha. The damage caused by Armillaria mellea s. l. depend on the root deformation of planting stock and on way of planting. The subroject deals mainly with the research of silvicultural measures for reducing the shape deformation and fungal pathogens endangering the health development of young pine stands.
Subproject 04 Tending of forest stands in changing immission and ecological conditions with respect to forest functions (coordinator M. Slodicak) The research in this subproject is oriented on the study of thinning effects on the main forest tree species and their mixtures with respect of changing growth conditions, especially human impact and climate extremes. More details:
Attention is paid to soil environment, accumulation of humus and nutrient cycling in forest stands with various thinning regimes.The results are being received by evaluation of the data from long-term thinning experiments in spruce and pine stands founded in the past decades as well as from new experiments in beech and oak stands and substitute stands of alternative tree species (birch, blue spruce, larch). In 2002, investigation was concentrated on evaluation of the 1st series of long term experiments with thinning of Norway spruce stands founded in 1958. It was found, that effect of thinning consisted in decreased salvage cut and increased static stability of thinned stands.The obtained results will be used as the basis of thinning principles for the main forest tree species considering the production and non-wood production functions of forest stands in changing growing conditions.
Subproject 05
Research has been focused on specific characteristics of selection and cultivation planting stock destined for mountain localities and on possibilities of use plants grown by alternative ways (vegetative propagation, growing containerised seedling in greenhouses). Growth and state of health of spruce plantings has been evaluated on mountain clear-cuts and plants from greenhouse technology (plugs) and common planting stock (bare rooted plants or plants in peat pots) have been compared. Up to date results (8 to 9 years after planting suggest good growth of plantings established by "plugs". Enhanced attention should be focused on growing of roots beyond the space of original rootball. Plantings established by containerised seedlings of beech have been evaluated in various altitude from 520 m to 920 m above sea level. Survival and early growth of this seedlings have been very high. Possible growth problems will be evaluated next year. Growth of vegetative propagated beech and oak assessed in various site conditions was comparable with plants of generative origin. New ways of individual protection of broadleaved plants against deer browsing and growth stimulation by plastic tubes have been assessed. The best growth stimulation of beech occurred in the case of use seedlings grown by greenhouse technology. New ways of protection of shoots growing up above the tubes are searched.
Subproject 06
The results of long-term observation of the Giant Mts. on stony soils contributed to evaluation of introskeletal erosion on other mountain regions. At present, introskeletal erosion endanger 46,535 ha, i.e. 10.1 % of forest areas of the Czech Republic.
After mechanization site preparation on the Orlicke hory Mts., the most disturbed soil surfaces have shown the deepest increment of forest floor during ten years if the green alder for its remedy has been used. In variant with "addition of limestone into the hole in the period of planting", mineralization of organic material amplified, but at the same time decreased the soil acidity and improved the base saturation. Investigation of biomass accumulation in dwarf pine stands will be used for comparison with other tree species The results gained in the Ore Mts. supported the positive impact of amelioration by soil spreading from windrows to plots which were raked off by bulldozers. The former agricultural soils occupied by young spruce stands demonstrate quicker litter decomposition and nutrition cycling than forest soils with the same forest stand cover. Attention was paid also to monitoring climatic elements and elements of immission load. The known run of soil-air temperatures in spring period, magnitude and dynamics of sulphur, nitrogen, and fluorine load contributed to explanation of injure causes namely at broadleaves. Correlation analyses between the nitrogen content in precipitation and the wind direction showed that the precipitation with higher content of nitrogen comes mostly from the South. Investigation of air pollution was completed by observation of ozone concentration, when physiological damage of needles is expected after reaching 65µg ozone in 1 m3 of air. New knowledge have been reached about the influence of the height of snow layer on damage of plantations of various needle and broadleaves tree species. Nursery experiments has confirmed the high variability of quality of beech seedling shoots. Germinating beechnuts with roots longer than 0.5 cm used for sowing caused serious seedling deformations. Gained information serve to completing and regulating of silvicultural research in frame of the investigative intention "Silviculture in ecotopes damaged by anthropogenic activity". Research projects of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic Mountain forest ecosystems and their management with the aim to reduce floods Catastrophic floods in Bohemia and Moravia in the last 4 years induced a renewed interest in hydrological effectiveness of mountain forest ecosystems. Intensive precipitation in mountain forest watersheds was the main cause of the floods. Four long-term field hydrological research plots are available in the Orlicke hory Mts. and the Giant Mts. In the oldest field research plot Destenska stran, all components are studied of the water balance of main tree species (Norway spruce and European beech) of mountain locations since 1976. The second research plot Ceska Cermna serves for the study of slope runoff. Differences in runoff between clear felling, shelterwood felling and a mature Norway spruce stand are studied since 1979. The third research plot, a small forest watershed U Dvou loucek, was established in 1991 for the study of soil water and runoff regulations of the watershed in the ridge part of the Orlicke hory Mts. (affected by the extensive dieback of spruce monocultures). The last research plot determined for the measurement of surface erosion on stony slopes was established in the Giant Mts. in 1988. Quantification of the intro-skeleton erosion makes it possible to detect changes in the character of soils and runoff conditions after felling induced by air pollution. Thus, long-term and continuous series of observations including measurements in the course of disastrous floods will be a background for the evaluation of management methods in mountain forests (species composition, regeneration methods, water regime regulation, intro-skeleton erosion prevention etc.). The study will make possible to determine maximum retention and retardation of precipitation in forest stands from the viewpoint of flood reduction. Another research projects Stresstolerant clonal mixtures of Picea abies (L.) destined to mountain localities In the autumn 2001 inventory of experimental plots established by generative and vegetative propagated planting stock vas realised. In 2002 statistic analyses were done. Rooted cuttings from last year were transplanted into nursery beds to serve as a basis for later choice of selected clones. Another cuttings were taken from chosen clones. The new planting was established on the Svetla hora locality in the Krkonose Mts. Isoenzyme analyses were done in some in more detail assessed clones. In the scope of improvement of cutting technology the double cover (white foil tunnels inside of greenhouse) during rooting was proved. The influence of location of cuttings within crown of the mother tree and the term of cutting on rooting success were also examined. Goals and ways of monoculture Norway spruce transformation - evaluation of exemplary objects of "close-to-nature" stand management in the Czech Republic Evaluation of transformation was realized on the localities Pokojna hora (SLP Krtiny), Hetlin (Kutna hora), Stenice (Zdar nad Sazavou) a Opocno region. Samples for increment measurements (discs, cores) were taken for the evaluation of increment changes after change of management. The development of ingrowth on Stenice locality was quite different in spite of the same initial conditions. Stand differentiation corresponds to selective forest at present, this visual aspect will chage. Ingrowth in the future is going to grow up to one broad level with the mature stand. The change of assortments was studied on Opuky locality. The portion of broad trees gradually increased despite the cutting of thick mature trees. Complex analysis of long-term changes of the tundra in Krkonose Mts. - Partial project Development of dwarf-pine stands reproduction in various environmental conditions, study of structure and development of native dwarf pine stands populations with various space and age structures Monitoring of health state: Extent of shrub damages by Thecodiplosis brachyntera is gradually decreasing, shrubs with a long-term damage die. Some unknown disease was found this year on dwarf-pine stands, disease caused to dying of the whole branches and shrubs. Analysis of rich seed crop in the previous year confirmed the importance of microclimatic conditions in the time of flowering and fertilisation on the seed quantity and quality.
Project of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic Information sources for silviculture research - acquisition and making available Referativnyj zurnal, section 04B7 Lesovedenije i lesovodstvo (in electronic version) The aim of the project is to acquire and offer users the abstract journal Referativnyj zurnal, section 04B7 - Lesovedenije i lesovodstvo on CD-ROM. In 2002 we arranged the subscription of current database Referativnyj zurnal 2002 and we continued the purchase of retrospective data. At present the library owns electronic Referativnyj zurnal from 1994 till 2002.
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