Height growth-related competitiveness of oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Quercus robur L.) under climate change in Central Europe. Is silvicultural assistance still required in mixed-species stands?

Kilian Stimm, Michael Heym, Enno Uhl, Stefan Tretter, Hans Pretzsch

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17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) play an important role in increasing the resistance of central European forests to severe droughts. But outside their real niche the competitiveness of both oak species can be low in mixed-species stands. This paper examines the height growth of oaks depending on environmental conditions and inter-specific competition. Height growth of trees was analysed using data from forest inventories covering monospecific and mixed-species stands within the German federal state of Bavaria. By means of regression analyses of 23,607 height measurements, we found that site conditions and stand structure have strong effects on the height growth of oak. Summer temperature, water balance in the vegetation period and base saturation were the main explanatory site variables. The first positive effect of summer temperature had no influence at warmer sites with mean summer temperatures above 16.4 °C, while the effect of water balance was positively linear. In addition, stand density modified the height growth of oak in a mainly positive manner. Vertical structure also had a positive effect, which was found for most species compositions, except monospecific stands and oak-hornbeam mixture. In most mixtures, oaks height growth seemed to be less climate-sensitive compared to monocultures. A currently warmer and drier climate seemed to favour the height growth superiority of European beech, whereas it decreased the superiority of Scots pine. The results indicated that even if the climate changes as predicted, the growth of oak will depend upon silvicultural promotion. Our findings can be used to improve regional guidelines for oak silviculture with special regard to climate-sensitive height growth. For example, a regionally delayed introduction of admixed species can reduce silvicultural treatments by ensuring oak vitality in mixed forests at the same time.

Original languageEnglish
Article number118780
JournalForest Ecology and Management
Volume482
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Feb 2021

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