engleski

Direct and indirect influence of climate on radial increment of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

To assess the possible influence of climate on the vitality of beech trees, we used several descriptors of common beech vitality: crown condition, radial growth and concentration of mineral elements in leaves. We want to check the validity of various descriptors of beech vitality as well as their possible interrelations and dependencies on climatic conditions and to asses the influence of climate change. We selected mature and healthy beech stand with moderate average defoliation for the subject of this study. Crown defoliation data, minerals in leaves and soil, cores from 26 trees and meteorological data were collected. Data were compared for the period 1994 – 2007. Crown defoliation slightly increasing since 1996, with percentage being the highest in 2003 and 2004 (approx. 30%), the years that follows heavy drought in 2002, after 2004 crown defoliation slowly decrease. Foliar nutrient concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg and K are in average years above threshold value, while in the year following extreme year they drop below threshold values indicating prolonged stressful conditions for tree growth. Wetter conditions in April-August are influencing Ca concentration in leaves ; while hotter and drier climate in the same period has a negative influence on Ca, P and Mg concentrations in leaves. Tree-ring widths are correlated with wetter conditions in June. Crown transparency, as long as it is below 25-30%, has no influence on radial growth and on mineral nutrient concentrations in leaves. There was no relationship between mineral nutrient concentrations in leaves and radial growth.

Climate; radial increment; beech (Fagus sylvatica)

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