FIELD TRIP + ON SITE DISCUSSION GUIDE

Transcription

1 FIELD TRIP + ON SITE DISCUSSION GUIDE Integrating Scientific Knowledge in Mixed Forests EuMIXFOR Final Conference, Prague, October 5 th 7 th COST Action FP 1206

2 The guide was prepared by Jiří Remeš Department of Silviculture Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Conference partners: 1

3 THE UNIVERSITY FOREST ESTABLISHMENT IN KOSTELEC NAD ČERNÝMI LESY The University Forest Establishment (UFE) was founded in 1935 as a facility of the College of Agricultural and Forestry engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague. The administration of the state forests in the Kostelec nad Černými lesy, that was originated from Liechtensten s estate in 1933, had become a base of this school enterprise. At present, the University Forest Establishment is run as a self-supporting enterprise and forms one of two similar facilities of the University of Life Sciences Prague. The present state of its forest area comes from the changes after 1990 in consequences of restitution processes. Land data review of the UFE (area in ha, state in 2015) Agricultural Forest land Ponds Build up Total lands area State forest (CULS Prague) From it Natural 674 2,5 677 Reserve Private and Municipal forest rented Total The region of the University Forest Establishment, situated km from Prague in SE direction, forms a part of Středočeská pahorkatina geomorphology system, bordering with lowland of Polabí in the north, part of Česká křídová tabule. The forests fall in the Natural forest region Středočeská pahorkatina (PLO 10), only inconsiderable are on the north is part of the Natural forest region Polabí (PLO 17). 2

4 Climatic conditions Climatic data [ø from period ] meteorological station Truba Altitude m Mean annual temperature 7-9 C Growing season days Annual precipitation mm The locality is possible according to climate characteristics to sort into slightly warm climate region (B), slightly warm, slightly humid upland climate district, with bland winter (B3). Geology and soil conditions Geology of this region is very rich. Perm carbon is prevailing conglomerates, arkoses, sandstone, bony coal, shale, breccia. The Central-Bohemia pluton forming bedrock of the south-western part of the forest administration is also frequently represented (Jevany, Kostelec). It is mainly biotite-porphyric granodiorite so called Říčany granite. Large grains of orthoclase are typical for this rock. Pleistocene s clays, mostly loess, are less important, nevertheless they are good bedrock from the soil forming viewpoint. The soil result of weathering of the rock mentioned above are very rich in physical aspects from the large boulder detritus to clay-sand and clay soils, mostly acid, lower nutrient supply, Chemically favorable soils are in the valley at the base of slopes and loess, where there is often gleic soils (edaphic category O and P). The mesotrophic cambisol representing about 33.6 % of the forest soil is the most frequent type, followed by oligotrophic cambisol (brown forest soil 28.3 %), pseudogley (15.2 %), alluvial soils (3.0 %), eutrophic cambisol (2.6 %) and podzol (1.1 %) are less important. Other soil types represent less than 1 %. 3

5 Present tree species composition is very different from the natural one Norway spruce % Oaks 8.86 % Scots pine % European hornbeam 1.12 % European larch 4.35 % Black alder 1.04 % Silver fir 1.64 % Other species 3.41 % European beech % The forest vegetation zones n. Name Altitude m a. see level Average temperature Annual precipitation Growing season 0 Pine Oak < 350 m > 8 C < 600 mm > 165 days Beech-Oak C mm Oak-Beech C mm Beech C mm Fir-Beech C mm Spruce-Beech C mm Beech-Spruce C mm Spruce C Mountain Pine > 1350 < 2.5 C > 1500 mm < 60 - Percentage (%) 4

6 1. EXCURSION STOP: MIXED STAND WITH NON-NATIVE INTRODUCED TREE SPECIES Forest stand: 411D11 Altitude: 410 m. Age: 112 years. Tree species composition: Spruce 80, Douglas fir 20, individual admixture of silver fir, maple and beech. Site conditions The mineral bedrock is covered by Luvisol, in some parts with transition to Pseudogley. Soils have good nutrition levels and sufficient buffering capacity. The production conditions for forest trees can be evaluated as good or very good. Climatic conditions can be described as semi-humid climate. The average annual temperature is 8.0 C, average annual precipitation is 665 mm and Lang s rain factor is 83. The phytocoenological unit of research plots belongs to Querceto-Abietinum variohumidum mesotrophicum (Forest type 4O1). Description of the stand Example of the high productive mixed conifer forest stand. Douglas fir is the most perspective introduced tree species with high wood production potential. At present, Douglas fir grows on ha in the Czech Republic, which is approximately 0.22% of the whole forest area of the state. Research in this area is focused on an evaluation production and regeneration potential of Douglas fir. Growing stock exceeds m 3 /ha in the age of 100 years. 5

7 Spatial arrangement of trees in the experimental plots Map of the stand 441D11 6

8 2. EXCURSION POINT: SEMI-NATURAL MIXED STANDS Forest stand: 436E 17b/9b/4, Altitude: m. Age: 195/85/40 years. Tree species composition: Age class 195: beech 40, spruce 35, sycamore maple 10, fir 5, sessile oak 5, hornbeam 5. Age class 85: beech 40, hornbeam 20, sycamore maple 10, alder 10, sessile oak 10, spruce 5, ash 4, fir 1. Age class 40: beech 95, sycamore maple 5. Site conditions The mineral bedrock is covered by Fluvisol, in slope parts with transition to Gleyic Mesotrophic Cambisol. Climatic conditions can be described as humid climate. The average annual temperature is 7.0 C, average annual precipitation is 665 mm and Lang s rain factor is 95. The phytocoenological unit of research plots belongs to Acereto-Fraxinetum vallidosum (Forest type 3U3). Description of the stand Uneven-aged mixed stand with semi-natural (selection) structure (3-5 stories) with valuable native ecotype of Norway spruce and silver fir. Selected trees of Norway spruce are more than 200 years old, with height 45 m, DBH 115 cm and volume 15 m 3. Example of inversion of the forest vegetation zones. Stand is left to natural development (on the border of the National reserve). 7

9 Map of the stand 436 E 17b/9b/4 8

10 3. EXCURSION POINT: CONVERSION OF CONIFEROUS PURE STAND TO MIXED STAND Forest stand: 409F12 Altitude: m. Age of upper layer: 122 years. Age of a new forest generation 1 60 years. Tree species composition of upper layer: Spruce 85, Pine 5, Larch 5, Oak 5. Site conditions Chalk sand stone with loam cover chemically suitable soils, however less suitable by their physical properties. Climatic conditions can be described as semi-humid climate. The average annual temperature is 8.0 C, average annual precipitation is 665 mm and Lang s rain factor is 83. The phytocoenological unit of research plots belongs to Querceto-Abietinum variohumidum acidophilum (Forest type 4P1). Risks: wind, bark beetle, red rot, tendency to acidification, drying off, nevertheless temporally also excessive moistening of the soil and gleyic changes, possibility of the Calamagrostis sp. and Blackberry sp. development. Description of the stand and forest management Stand regeneration is taking place through the combination of shelterwood and group felling, slowly on going is the most suitable way. Regeneration has been started 60 years ago. Small clear cutting, followed by artificial oak, beech and fire regeneration (planting) was a first regeneration stage. Next regeneration phase was realized by natural spruce regeneration. The succession of irregular shelter cuttings from the north was chosen in respect of slightly arid conditions of this locality. Under planting of fir and beech, followed by natural regeneration of spruce, larch and oak (possibly also pine) is suitable way how to ensure required proportion of stand stabilizing tree species. Only sufficient proportion of tree species with deep roots (oak, larch, fir, beech) can help to support the site stabilisation. During regeneration it is necessary to keep corresponding density of upper layer for eliminate of weed infestation. Research is focused on evaluation of the effect of microsite conditions on growth of underplanted beech. 9

11 Design of the experimental plots Map of the stand 411D11 10

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