Development of oaks (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) emerged from bird-dispersed seeds under old-growth pine (Pinus silvestris L.) stands

In East Germany, there are a lot of areas covered by old pine stands. They are growing on soils, on which under natural conditions without anthropogenic impact mixed stands of oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and pine (Pinus silvestris L.), would form a natural forest. An important objective of ecological silviculture in these areas is to convert the pure pine stands into mixed oak–pine stands by using natural regeneration methods. A highly appreciated assistant in this connection is the European jay (Garrulus glandarius L.). The remarkable results of its work have been found by analyzing the natural regeneration in a few old pine stands in the forest district of Weißwasser in Saxony. Although mother trees of oak are very scarce there, natural regeneration of oak was found everywhere in the research area. The oak regeneration, undoubtedly created by the jay, amounted to at least 2000 oaks/ha. They were mainly distributed at random, while pine regeneration was aggregated in places where gaps in the pine canopy occurred. Oak regeneration was established much earlier than pine regeneration. Thus, oaks exceeded pines in age, height and diameter. The oaks were also superior to pines concerning height increment for the last three years. Thus, there is a good chance for oak to defend its prevailing role in the regeneration in the future. Probably, the next forest generation will be composed of oak and pine trees. The analysis of the quality of the oak regeneration shows that there is no substantial difference to artificially sown oak stands. This indicates that the European jay creates oak stands sufficiently both in number and quality.     

Young conifer stands form a deer browsing refuge for an oak admixture: silvicultural implications for forest regeneration under herbivore pressure

There is little knowledge how ungulate pressure on forest regeneration may be mitigated by silvicultural methods. The knowledge is especially needed for artificially regenerated, deciduous tree species. We studied factors affecting browsing incidence by deer in the Pisz Forest District in Poland, an area where 10,000 ha of forest was damaged by a 2002 hurricane. In 2006, we established three experimental plots (in total, 22.6 ha), in which the main species was Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) admixed with pedunculate oak (Quercus robur). The data on browsing were collected in 2008–2015. In general, oak browsing incidence was unrelated to oak planting density. On a plantation scale, it was significantly affected by the pine age. Although in each variant all the oaks were browsed for four consecutive years (2009–2012), in 2013 browsing incidence began to decrease. When the pines grew higher and formed a physical barrier, it was harder for deer—roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and moose (Alces alces)—to move through and locate the oaks. Moreover, within plantations, oak browsing incidence was higher in the patches with shorter pines. Browsing of individual saplings or small groups of saplings was also negatively affected by the height of neighbouring pine saplings. Oak density influenced deer selectivity depending on the tree height. In a low oak tree density, browsing incidence was unrelated to oak height, while in higher tree density, deer selected oaks of the height between 40 and 100 cm. We postulate that deciduous admixture in a coniferous (unattractive) stand can be planted with a few year delay. Older coniferous trees should impede locating of attractive tree species by deer and the browsing incidence.     

北京栓皮栎林分的干形质量初步研究

探讨了划分林木干形质量的标准,将林木干形质量分为通直、轻度弯曲、二杈分枝、多杈分枝和重度弯曲5类干形。选择了胸径、树高、冠幅、冠长等6个因子,并研究了这6个调查因子随干形质量变化的关系。通过方差分析发现不同干形质量的林木胸径差异并不明显,而其它的调查因子却因干形不同而表现出显著差异。对表现显著的林分因子进行多重比较研究,发现通直干形生长得较高、有较小的冠径比;二杈分枝和多杈分枝林木的冠幅较大,且二杈分枝类型林木的高径比最小。可以得出结论:在近自然经营过程中,在选择以材质为目的的目标树时,首先考虑干形通直的林木。     

Contrasting net primary productivity and carbon distribution between neighboring stands of Quercus robur and Pinus sylvestris

Standing biomass, net primary production (NPP) and soil carbon (C) pools were studied in a 67-year-old pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) stand and a neighboring 74-year- old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand in the Belgian Campine region. Despite a 14% lower tree density and a lower tree height in the oak stand, standing biomass was slightly higher than in the pine stand (177 and 169 Mg ha(-1) in oaks and pines, respectively), indicating that individual oak trees contained more biomass than pine trees of similar diameter. Moreover, NPP in the oak stand was more than double that in the pine stand (17.7 and 8.1 Mg ha(-1) year(-1), respectively). Several observations indicated that soil organic matter accumulated at higher rates under pines than under oaks. We therefore hypothesized that the pines were exhibiting an age-related decline in productivity due to nutrient limitation. The poor decomposability of pine litter resulted in the observed accumulation of organic matter. The subsequent immobilization of nutrients in the organic matter, combined with the already nutrient-poor soil conditions, resulted in a decrease in total NPP over time, as well as in a substantial shift in the allocation of NPP toward fine roots. In the oak stand, litter is less recalcitrant to decay and soil acidity is less severe; hence, organic matter does not accumulate and nutrients are recycled. This probably explains why NPP was much higher in the oaks than in the pines and why only a small proportion of NPP was allocated to oak fine roots.     

Modelling the distribution of wood properties along the stems of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) as affected by silvicultural management

In this work, empirical ring-based models were developed to predict the distribution of early wood percentage, wood density and fibre length along the stems of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) as affected by silvicultural management. The performance of the ring-based models was also compared for Scots pine and Norway spruce with corresponding disc-based (cross-sectional) models. Moreover, both models were integrated with example simulations by a process-based growth and yield model to analyze how management, such as thinning, affects the growth and wood properties of Scots pine trees over a rotation as an average for the tree stem, but also along the stem.The ring-based models built for annual early wood percentage (explained by ring width), air dry wood density (explained by early wood percentage and cambial age) and fibre length (explained by radial growth percentage and cambial age) predicted reasonably well the wood properties both at an intra-ring level, but also at a cross-sectional level. These predictions were also reasonably well in line with corresponding cross-sectional predictions by the disc-based models (which predicted the properties based on the number of annual rings and diameter at breast height and/or the cross-section being considered and temperature sum). The example simulations also demonstrated that both models predicted slightly lower wood density for dominant trees compared to dominated ones grown in thinned and unthinned Scots pine stands over a rotation. Unlike the disc-based model, the ring-based model predicted, on average, higher early wood percentage in dominant trees than in dominated ones. However, fibre length was not significantly affected when the averages of the whole stems were predicted, and this held true for both ring- and disc-based models.In summary, the incorporation of empirical ring-based wood property models into a process-based growth and yield model, offers a means to study in detail how environmental conditions, forest structure and management affect the quantity and properties of stem wood produced over a rotation. The disc-based wood property models used in this work are based on data with large geographical and genetic variation, and therefore may turn out to be more applicable for predicting future wood and fibre resources at a regional and national level. This kind of integrated use of wood property models with a process-based growth and yield model could help us to evaluate the forest resources under current and changing climate.     

Interference of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum L. Kuhn) with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) seedling establishment

The nature of interference of bracken with Scots pine and Norway spruce seedling establishment was considered in three field experiments. In a seeding experiment, it was found that Scots pine germination was highest on exposed mineral soil and lowest when intact bracken litter and humus were present, suggesting adverse effects of litter and humus on pine regeneration probably due to phytotoxicity. In a second experiment, smothering by bracken caused high mortality of Scots pine seedlings while Norway spruce seedlings were relatively unaffected. Mortality for both Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings was low when planted in a adjacent Scots pine-bilberry stand with no bracken. Annual shoot growth of Norway spruce was higher in bracken than in Scots pine-bilberry vegetation while no differences in shoot growth between these two vegetation types occurred for Scots pine. In a third experiment, activated carbon was added to the ground under Norway spruce seedlings planted in bracken to adsorb possible phytotoxic compounds released by bracken. The addition of carbon had no effect on seedling mortality or growth rate, indicating that the seedlings were not susceptible to allelochemicals released by bracken. Since large Norway spruce seedlings were relatively unaffected by bracken interference in this study, artificial regeneration with containerized Norway spruce seedlings is suggested to achieve an acceptable conifer tree establishment on clear-cuts invaded by bracken.     

Influence of different forest conversion strategies on ground vegetation and tree regeneration in pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) stands: a case study in NE Germany

The conversion of anthropogenic into more natural, self-regenerating forests is one of the major objectives of forestry throughout Europe. In this study, we present investigations on permanent plots with different silvicultural treatment in NE German pine stands. Management of old-growth pine stands on acidic and nutrient-poor sandy sites differs in fencing, thinning, and planting of certain tree species. The investigations were carried out on the community, population, and individual level of the pine forest ecosystems. Thus, vegetation changes, size and height of tree populations, and height increment of tree individuals were observed over a time span of 6 years. Special attention was paid to short-lived tree species such as, e.g., Frangula alnus and Sorbus aucuparia, as well as to Fagus sylvatica as one of the most typical forest tree species of Central Europe. Vegetation changes are interpreted as a consequence of natural regeneration of formerly degraded forest sites, involving an increase in nutrient availability. High browsing pressure can be considered as a key factor for the inhibition of tree seedlings and growth of saplings. Some Sorbus aucuparia individuals, however, succeeded in growing out of the browsing height also in unfenced stands. Few found specimens of Fagus sylvatica proved that this species is able to establish spontaneously on these relatively dry, acidic sites under continental climate influence. Such natural regeneration processes, also including spontaneous rejuvenation of trees, can be integrated into silviculture as passive forest conversion management. An active management like thinning of stands, planting of trees, and fencing can accelerate forest conversion with regard to height growth and species number of trees.     

Dendroclimatic signals of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in Estonia

This study investigates the climate impact on the radial increment of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in Estonia at the species’ northern distribution limit. Tree-ring width series of 162 living oaks were compiled into three regional chronologies—western (1646–2008), northeastern (1736–2011), and southeastern Estonia (1912–2011). Although these regional growth patterns are similar to each other and even to the growth patterns in adjacent regions, spatial differences in growth responses to climate were established. Thus, oaks growing on shallow soil in western Estonia are positively influenced by summer (June–August) precipitation, and oaks on the deeper soil in northeastern Estonia are favoured by June temperature, while oaks in the southeastern part of the country depend on both July precipitation and temperature. These relationships are pronounced especially in pointer years. However, due to the impact of regional weather fluctuations on tree growth, there is a lack of correspondence between the local and the pan-European pointer years. In addition, our research presents the first tree-ring-based palaeoclimatic reconstruction for the country. Although the created model has relatively low predictive skill describing less than a quarter of the variance in actual summer precipitation in western Estonia, it has passable capacity of detecting past rainfall extremes.     

Patterns of Stem Damage by Moose (Alces alces) in Young Pinus sylvestris Stands in Sweden

The incidence of recent moose browsing of the main stem on young Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees, and correlations with tree or stand characteristics, were examined using data from a large-scale survey in Sweden. On average, 10% of all Scots pine main stems showed one or more types of recent damage, with browsing of the apical leader accounting for about 75% of all damage recorded. Stripping of bark off the main stem occurred most frequently in the southern area, where site productivity is highest. Apical leader browsing was negatively correlated with height of the main stems, length of the apical leader and incidence of pre-commercial thinning, whereas bark stripping and stem breaking were positively correlated with the same variables. All types of recent stem damage correlated positively with the extent of previous stem damage and also with the extent of recent browsing of lateral shoots.     

Scarification and Seedfall affects Natural Regeneration of Scots Pine Under Two Shelterwood Densities and a Clear-cut in Southern Sweden

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) shelterwood density and timing of removal on the regeneration of forests with improved wood quality. This paper focuses on the effect of scarification and seedfall on the success of natural regeneration of Scots pine under two shelterwood densities and in a clear-cut. Wood quality aspects will be addressed later in the study. After 4 yrs, natural regeneration of Scots pine under a 200 stems ha^-1 shelterwood reached 90000 seedlings ha^-1, 53000 under a 160 stems ha^-1 shelterwood and 3700 in a clear-cut. The high natural regeneration under the densest shelterwood resulted from a high seedfall, slower invasion by competing vegetation, consequent prolonged recruitment and low mortality. Since mortality largely decreased for both shelterwood densities and recruitment seems to continue, the success of regeneration should be maintained in the future if proper release operations are conducted. The latter could begin when seedlings reach a height of about 0.5 m and the cover should be maintained until they reach a height of about 6 m. Therefore, it may be possible to use 200 stems ha-1 Scots pine shelterwoods in southern Sweden to obtain dense stands and thus improve wood quality (stem taper, wood density, etc.).     

Oak (Quercus robur L.) regeneration in early successional woodlands grazed by wild ungulates in the absence of livestock

Wooded pastures grazed by livestock are believed to be landscapes that provide favourable conditions for spontaneous regeneration of oaks, including Quercus robur. A key mechanism for oak regeneration in these systems is ‘associational resistance’, spatial association with unpalatable plants which offer protection against herbivory. There is little knowledge on how oak regenerates without livestock grazing and in the presence of only wild large herbivores. We studied this in an area (114 ha) abandoned from agricultural use and in the early 1980s incorporated into the Bia?owie?a National Park, Poland. Its ungulate community consists of native red deer, European bison, roe deer, moose and wild boar. Secondary succession has led to the development of a mosaic habitat including tree and tall shrub groves (29% of the area), open meadow communities (60%), and edge, transitory zone between groves and meadows (11%). Our systematic inventory assigned oaks to height classes (0-0.2, 0.2-0.5, 0.5-1.3, 1.3-2.5, 2.5-5.0, >5.0 m), dichotomous shape characteristic (regular vs. “bonsai” sapling), as well as a habitat definition, in particular the characteristics of woody vegetation in the immediate surroundings of oaks. A selection of 17 oaks was subject to coring for the comparison of growth dynamics. Oak density was highest inside groves, with 504 oaks ha⁻¹, and in the edge zone (493 oaks ha⁻¹) and lowest in meadows (47 oaks ha⁻¹). Most of the 0-5-m oaks (62%) grew without another woody plant species within 1 m radius. The remaining oaks (38%) were associated mainly with Rubus idaeus and saplings of Carpinus betulus and Populus tremula - all highly ungulate-preferred species. The age (0.5 m above ground) of cored oaks in grove and edge habitats varied from 11 to 37 years, indicating continuous recruitment since agricultural abandonment. The initial growth dynamics of the more mature oaks did not differ from that of present “bonsais,” supporting the idea that browsing is not an unconditional impediment and that “bonsai” can be a temporary stage of successful oak development. In contrast to other studies, we found that associational resistance from unpalatable plants is not necessary to secure successful oak regeneration in woodlands subject to browsing by wild ungulates. This might have been possible because of the abundance of highly attractive vegetation making oak relatively unpreferred by ungulates. We suggest that the observed secondary succession provides a contemporary analogy of historic processes that resulted in the establishment of broadleaf forests with a substantial proportion of oak.     

Stem modeling and simulation of conversion of cork oak stems for quality wood products

Recent research is underway to study cork oak (Quercus suber L.) wood potential for production of wood components. A total of 35 stems of young and mature cork oaks were sampled, live sawn into flitches, scanned using VTT’s WoodCIM^®, and the measured data computed by VTT’s PuuPilot software, allowing stem 3D reconstruction. Sawing simulations were run for 0.5 m and 1 m logs and the whole stem. Sawn products were (1) planks, (2) parquet, (3) lamparquet, and (4) external component of multilayer planks. Cork oak stems showed a moderate to small taper (mean 24 mm/m). Curviness varied between straight to significantly crooked stems (mean value 40 mm) Batch yields for the tested products ranged 25–43% and 37–50% for 0.5 m logs of young and mature trees, respectively; for 1 m logs, batch yields ranged 19–41% and 25–54%. When using the whole stem, batch yields were lower, ranging 11–38% and 15–50%. Higher yields were obtained for all log lengths and samples for production of lamparquet, parquet, and multilayer component.     

Species-specific spatial structure,species coexistence and mortality pattern in natural,uneven-aged Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.)-dominated forest

Complexity of uneven-aged forests results from the heterogeneity of their structure reflected among others by the spatial pattern of their components. Forest structure is usually modified by various processes operating at different scales and time. Structure and processes are not independent, and both are important drivers of forest dynamics. The impact of natural processes on forest structure manifested in the specific spatial pattern of trees can be quantified by point pattern analysis applied to long-term repeatedly measured stem-mapped plots. Such studies are relatively scarce in the literature although they provide better insight into the mechanisms affecting forest dynamics. Our study is focused on the spatiotemporal analysis of the structure of mixed uneven-aged Scots pine-dominated forest located at the Kampinoski National Park (Poland). Univariate analysis showed that the initial pattern of all live trees was initially random and it shifted toward more uniform with forest aging. Spatial patterns of individual tree species varied from that stated for all forest community. We observed changes in spatial pattern of Scots pine and common oak from random toward more clumped (pine) or uniform (oak) pattern. In case of black alder and common birch, the initial aggregated pattern was maintained over the examined 14-year period of the forest succession. Bivariate analysis showed that the most common interspecific association between pairs of tree species was spatial segregation (pine vs. alder, alder vs. birch and oak vs. birch) followed by spatial independence (pine vs. oak and oak vs. alder). The positive association was stated only for pine and birch and only for certain spatial scales (> 5 m). Simultaneously, at small distances they showed reciprocal repulsion. Changes in spatial relationships between tree species were negligible over 14-year period of forest succession. Our results confirmed the density-dependent mortality process in the uneven-aged Scots pine-dominated forest over 14-year period of forest development. Our study showed that spatial interactions between individuals along with species-specific ecological requirements should be incorporated into realistic models of forest development, helping to manage the forest ecosystems toward their greater structural complexity.     

Does tree species composition control soil organic carbon pools in Mediterranean mountain forests?

We compared soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and stability under two widely distributed tree species in the Mediterranean region: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) at their ecotone. We hypothesised that soils under Scots pine store more SOC and that tree species composition controls the amount and biochemical composition of organic matter inputs, but does not influence physico-chemical stabilization of SOC. At three locations in Central Spain, we assessed SOC stocks in the forest floor and down to 50 cm in the mineral in pure and mixed stands of Pyrenean oak and Scots pine, as well as litterfall inputs over approximately 3 years at two sites. The relative SOC stability in the topsoil (0-10 cm) was determined through size-fractionation (53 μm) into mineral-associated and particulate organic matter and through KMnO₄-reactive C and soil C:N ratio.Scots pine soils stored 95-140 Mg ha⁻¹ of C (forest floor plus 50 cm mineral soil), roughly the double than Pyrenean oak soils (40-80 Mg ha⁻¹ of C), with stocks closely correlated to litterfall rates. Differences were most pronounced in the forest floor and uppermost 10 cm of the mineral soil, but remained evident in the deeper layers. Biochemical indicators of soil organic matter suggested that biochemical recalcitrance of soil organic matter was higher under pine than under oak, contributing as well to a greater SOC storage under pine. Differences in SOC stocks between tree species were mainly due to the particulate organic matter (not associated to mineral particles). Forest conversion from Pyrenean oak to Scots pine may contribute to enhance soil C sequestration, but only in form of mineral-unprotected soil organic matter.     

Multipurpose conversion management of Scots pine towards mixed oak–birch stands—A long-term simulation approach

The forest growth model 4C was used to investigate how conversion management of a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stand towards a mixed oak–birch stand would affect stand structural development – and hence biodiversity and productivity – in the long term. For this purpose the 4C model was parameterised for natural regeneration of light demanding species and extended for management of multi-layered stands. A series of structural indicators was selected to describe key factors of forest biodiversity at the stand scale. Two consecutive aspects of Scots pine conversion were tested: (1) the choice of conversion strategy between thinning and gap creation and (2) the choice of conversion regime in terms of cutting cycle, thinning type and pine tree retention. Three simulated conversion strategies aim at the gradual removal of the pine canopy but differ in the spatial organisation of pine cuttings and hence result in different light conditions for regeneration. Only the directed gap creation strategy was able to maintain and increase birch admixture to the stand and to approach natural stand structural development. Simulation of 12 conversion regimes for the directed gap creation strategy indicated that thinning type (from above or from below), pine tree retention at final felling (50% of the standing volume or none) and cutting cycle (6, 9 or 12 years) all significantly influence stand structural development. These effects were clearest for oak development. Birch occurred in a few mixed clusters, but tended to disappear when longer cutting cycles were used. Based on a multi-criteria analysis we conclude that the optimal conversion regime – in which both stand productivity and biodiversity objectives can be combined – implies thinning from above, pine tree retention, and cutting cycles of 6 years. The conceptual validity of the model as well as the applicability of the results are discussed.     

A. Study of Compression Wood in Scots Pine (Pinus silvestris L.): With I Plate

The incidence of compression wood was studied in 24–40-year-oldScots pine plantations. It was found that compression wood distributionin trees depended on type of stem curvature and was associatedwith their attempts to correct stem inclination. Compressionwood volume percentage was not closely related to extent ofstem curvature but was highly correlated with compression woodpercentage in the tree at breast height or 10 feet. There wassignificantly less compression wood near the butt than at higherlevels. In stands examined, compression wood formed 20–40per cent, of the standing volume. The prevailing wind appearedlargely responsible for the initial development of stem inclinationand consequent compression wood formation. Provision of shelterduring establishment should reduce compression wood developmentin second rotation crops.     

Long-term trends in height growth of Picea obovata and Pinus sylvestris during the past 100 years in Komi Republic (north-western Russia)

Abstract

Adapting forest management practices to the changing environment of Komi Republic requires an understanding of the response of unmanaged natural forests to climatic changes. Komi Republic is a region of north-western Russia where large areas of natural boreal forest still exist. Apical growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (108 trees, 529 discs) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) (88 trees, 423 discs) was analysed using stem analysis techniques. Mean apical growth curves were calculated for four zones of boreal forests in two subsequent 50 year periods starting from 1900. A statistically significant increase in height increment of 40% for Siberian spruce and 30% for Scots pine was identified from samples representing the Komi Republic. Within this region statistically significant height increment increases were found in the middle taiga zone for Siberian spruce of 240% and Scots pine of 140%, while northern taiga Siberian spruce increased by 164%. Taking into account that trees were samples in remote untouched pristine forests, the main causes of increased height increment are suggested to be climatic, which shows a large increase in temperature (0.43°C during the past 30 years) and a modest decrease in precipitation (2.2% over the past 30 years).     

Stand density and fertilization effects on aboveground allocation patterns and stem form of Pinus sylvestris in young stands

The increasing demand for forest biomass for energy generation could be partially met by growing denser stands and use of fertilizer. Before this is done at large scale, more knowledge of the effects of stand density and fertilization on aboveground allocation patterns and stem form is needed. Therefore, effects of pre-commercial thinning (PCT) to 3000 stems ha^?1, an unthinned dense control (C), and PCT combined with two levels of fertilization (100 kg ha^?1 of nitrogen applied either during the establishment of the field experiment (F1) or annually (F2)) were examined in 23- to 26-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands six years after the establishment of the field experiment. In total, 114 sample trees were harvested using destructive biomass sampling. The growth allocation and stem form of trees with diameter at breast height (DBH; 1.3 m height) >5.0 cm were not affected by either the PCT or fertilization. Small trees (DBH < 5 cm) in denser, unthinned control plots had more slender stems (lower DBH/height ratios) and allocated less growth to branches and foliage than trees in PCT plots. Fertilization had little effect on the stem form and growth allocation of the smallest trees. Therefore, effects of stem density and fertilization on stem form and growth allocation to foliage were only found for small suppressed trees, and the treatments had very little influence on dominant and codominant trees.     

Allometric equations for estimating the foliage biomass of Scots pine

The research described in this paper was performed in the Niepolomice Forest (Southern Poland) in 2001 as part of the Forest Environmental Monitoring and Management System (FOREMMS; 5FP IST) project. The material for the present study consisted of the measurement results of the biomass of Scots pine shoots with needles and needles alone carried out on 113 felled sample trees. The purpose of this study was to construct empirical equations for estimating the foliage biomass of Scots pine from easy to measure parameters. To achieve this aim, the dependence of the foliage biomass of Scots pine on stem diameter, height, age, crown length, basal area increment of the trees was analyzed. Using the biometric characteristics such as: tree diameter at breast height (dbh), basal area increment, age, height, and crown length empirical equations for estimating the foliage biomass of Scots pine reasonably precisely have been established. The created empirical equation gives accurate foliage biomass estimates. The explained variability varies between 65 and 85%, it depends on the number of variables applied in the equation. The equations presented in this paper were created with a view to their possible use in ecological studies where biomass quantity may be used, for example, in modeling carbon circulation in the forest ecosystem. From the point of view of forestry practice, these equations may help to assess biomass production in Scots pine stands.     

栎林及其经营

本文主要论述了河北低山丘陵区自建国以来封育及被反复砍伐利用的栎林结构及其经营情况。仅山海关林场保存了一些30～50a生的栎林,阳坡为麻栎、栓皮栎及柞栎林,阴坡为蒙古栎林。林内幼树更新良好。萌生栎林早期生长迅速,10a后高生长逐渐减缓,50a生林分平均高才10m.1a生萌生栎林,每亩产枝干干重28.5～425kg不等。在土壤为中层-厚层厚度的条件下,栎林矮林作业轮伐期以3～5a为宜。采伐35～40a生栎林,每年每亩平均产值要略高于短轮伐期的栎林。在较好的立地条件下,还可采用选留木法的矮林作业,形成轮伐期不一致的具有2个林层的栎林。