Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Procházková Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady, Kunovice Research Station, Kunovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Bezděčková Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady, Kunovice Research Station, Kunovice, Czech Republic Title: Effects of moisture content, storage temperature and type of storage bag on the germination and viability of stored European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seeds Abstract: Beechnuts from three Fagus sylvatica lots were dried at 20°C to 5-6% or 8-9% (fresh weight basis) moisture content and stored at -7°C or -22°C for 3.5 or 4.5 years in sealed polyethylene bags containing air and routinely used for the long-term storage of beechnuts or vacuumed (de-aerated) polyethylene bags with air removed before sealing. The germination and viability (tetrazolium test) of beechnuts were determined according to the Czech Technical Rules (1997) once a year during storage. The results were subjected to factorial ANOVA and the means were compared using the Scheffe test at P > 0.05. Compared to beechnuts dried to an 8-9% moisture content a significant decrease in both germination and viability occurred in beechnuts dried to a 5-6% moisture content regardless of how long the beechnuts were stored. However, the effects of the other treatments (type of storage bag, storage temperature) were not significant. Keywords: beechnut storage, germination, tetrazolium viability, moisture content, storage temperature, bag Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 287-293 Volume: 54 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/37/2008-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/37/2008-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-200807-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:54:y:2008:i:7:id:37-2008-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Merklová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Bednářová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Results of a phenological study of the tree layer of a mixed stand in the region of the Drahanská vrchovina Upland Abstract: The paper presents the results of phenological studies of Norway spruce (Picea abies[L.] Karst.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) in a mixed stand in 2004 to 2007. The results show different onset and duration of phenological stages in the particular years. This broad range was important in spring phenological stages. High correlations were determined between the mean air temperature and the start of phenological stages in monitored species. The onset and duration of autumn phenological stages are affected not only by air temperature but also by air humidity. The annual variability in the onset and course of phenological stages in forest species showed that except genetic factors external conditions, particularly meteorological factors, affecting their onset and duration were also important. Relationships between the onset of phenological stages and changes in meteorological parameters were expressed by the sum of effective air temperatures exceeding 0 and 5°C. To evaluate the relationships by means of the sum of effective temperatures > 5°C, the stage of budbreak was most important in all studied species. Keywords: phenology, effective temperature, vegetation period, climatic change Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 294-305 Volume: 54 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/15/2008-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/15/2008-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-200807-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:54:y:2008:i:7:id:15-2008-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: O. Sevgi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University, Bahçeköy - Istanbul, Turkey Author-Name: H. B. Tecimen Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science and Ecology, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University, Bahçeköy - Istanbul, Turkey Title: Changes in Austrian pine forest floor properties in relation with altitude in mountainous areas Abstract: Altitudinal studies has become of interest to ecologists concentrated on functional alterations aiming to clarify the effects of limiting factors. Nutrient element release from forest floor (FF) decomposition is suppressed by those factors such as low temperature, shortened vegetation period concluding FF accumulation at high elevation fields. To draw out a response to the FF decomposition issue, FF layers as leaf + fermentation (L + F) and humus (H) were collected from 37 representative sample plots along an altitudinal gradient (from 1,400 m to 1,710 m) on Kaz (Balikesir-Turkey) mountain. Mass, pH, organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (Nt) contents of FF were investigated to explain the relation between decomposition and altitudinal effects. The results revealed that total FF mass and (L + F), (H) sub-fraction masses through elevation show an insignificant relation with the altitude. No significant difference was found between the altitudinal groups in the OM content of L + F. Besides there are significant negative correlations between OM contents (%) of L + F and H layers and altitude with the coefficient values 0.342 (P< 0.05) and 0.597 (P < 0.01), respectively. The Nt content of L + F layer also increases through the elevation revealing a medium correlation with altitude (0.368; P < 0.05). The increasing Nt and decreasing OM contents show better decomposition rates at higher sites regardless of the altitude induced climatic changes. We assume that the forest floor accumulation under tree canopies provides a better decomposition relying on the microclimatic environment mediated by tree canopies, in spite of the altitude. Keywords: altitude, Pinus nigra, forest floor, decomposition, organic matter, humus Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 306-313 Volume: 54 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/819-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/819-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-200807-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:54:y:2008:i:7:id:819-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Petráš Author-Workplace-Name: National Forest Centre - Forest Research Institute Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia Author-Name: J. Mecko Author-Workplace-Name: National Forest Centre - Forest Research Institute Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia Title: Analysis of the production potential of raw wood in the forests of Slovakia Abstract: Production of raw wood material and its regulation has a great ecological and economic importance in every country. The aim of the paper is to analyze the prospective production of raw wood with respect to the expected basic tree species composition and assortment structure on an example of long-term development of selected indicators of forest condition in Slovakia. For this analysis we used data on the area, growing stock and planned decennial timber felling in the forests of Slovakia in 1980, 1996 and 2003. The production potential of forests was evaluated on the basis of the annual perspective allowable cut by 2020, from which the prospective production of assortments was derived using the models of assortment yield tables of tree species. The results show that in the forests of Slovakia there is an about half proportion of coniferous and half proportion of broadleaved tree species, very good structure of growing stock as well as its trend in the last years. Production of raw wood assortments for industrial processing for the years 2010-2020 is limited by the volume 6.3-6.4 mil. m3. About one half of this volume comes from coniferous and the other half from broadleaved tree species. For coniferous tree species the proportion of spruce and fir is 87% and for broadleaved tree species the proportion of beech and oak is 80%. For coniferous tree species sawmill assortments have a decisive, almost 70% proportion. Regarding broadleaved tree species, pulpwood assortments with 47% proportion prevail, although with 11% the highest quality assortments for the production of veneer from beech and oak are also significant. Keywords: production of raw wood, allowable cut, production of raw wood assortments Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 314-320 Volume: 54 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/10/2008-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/10/2008-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-200807-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:54:y:2008:i:7:id:10-2008-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Kantor Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Production potential of Douglas fir at mesotrophic sites of Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise Abstract: : The study evaluates production parameters (height, diameter at breast height, volume) of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) at mesotrophic sites of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise in mature stands. In total, 29 mixed stands were assessed with the registered proportion of Douglas fir at an age of 85 to 136 years. Comparing the 10 largest Douglas firs with the 10 largest spruces or larches higher, and as a rule markedly higher, production potential of introduced Douglas fir was found in all assessed stands. There were also groups of trees where the volume of Douglas fir was twice to 3 times higher than the volume of spruce or larch (see Tabs. 5 to 10). For example, in stand 177B11, the mean volume of 9.12 m3 was recorded in the 10 largest Douglas fir trees but the volume of spruce reached only 3.17 m3 and the volume of larch was 3.70 m3. Differences in mensurational parameters of Douglas fir found on the one hand and of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) or European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) on the other hand compared by ANOVA tests were statistically highly significant. Annual ring analyses have shown that at present the volume increment of particular Douglas fir trees ranges from 0.12 to 0.16 m3 per year in mature stands (i.e. about 1.5 m3 every 10 years). Keywords: Douglas fir, Norway spruce, European larch, production potential, mesotrophic sites Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 321-332 Volume: 54 Issue: 7 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/35/2008-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/35/2008-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-200807-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:54:y:2008:i:7:id:35-2008-JFS