Frequency responses of radial growth series after different thinning intensities in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands
(2003) Forest Ecology and Management — Vol. 177, n° 1-3, p. 51-63 (2003)
Files
pdfdocument.pdf
Restricted Access - Adobe PDF
- 262.25 KB
Details
- Authors
- Abstract
- A thinning intensity experiment started in 1971 on two experimental 22-year-old stands of Norway spruce in the Belgian Ardenne. The stands had strongly contrasting water availability conditions. Heavy thinning resulted in up to 77% removal of the basal area. In 1995, tree ring-area series were measured from dendrochronological cores sampled in three different thinning intensity treatments and on a control plot. Radial growth variations at different frequencies (low, medium and high) were isolated by standardisation with polynomials and differencing. Results showed that long, medium and short-term radial growth variations are widely altered by heavy thinning. At low-frequency, growth tended to increase during 15 years, until the stand basal area reached 26-29 m(2) ha(-1) again. At medium-term, the positive growth lasted for 10 years: after this period radial growth was limited by an undetermined factor. Medium-frequency growth variation showed an inverse cycling behaviour between treatments during the entire period studied (25 years). At short-term, positive growth variation lasted 4 years. We showed empirical evidences that stand density alters the classical climate-growth relationship. At individual tree level, thinning could be a method to increase tree resistance to drought stress. This effect is limited when site conditions,are limiting. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
- Affiliations
Citations
Misson, L., Vincke, C., & Devillez, F. (2003). Frequency responses of radial growth series after different thinning intensities in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands. Forest Ecology and Management, 177(1-3), 51-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(02)00324-9 (Original work published 2003)