Growth characteristics of oak (Quercus petraea [Mattusch.] liebl.) stand under diferent thinning regimes

Abstract

In the paper, selected quantitative characteristics of 57-year-old oak pole stage stand were analysed on plots with different thinning regimes at its establishment. Six thinning treatments were performed in an interval of 8, 14 and/or 5 years. We applied the method of target (crop) trees on three partial plots and method of promising trees on one plot with different intensity of releasing the trees of selective quality (promising and target trees). The results of both methods were compared with the control (untreated plots). Preliminary outcomes suggested that from the quantitative aspects the best results were obtained on plots where target trees were released by removing one and/or two trees at the stand age of 19 years. These results confirmed the well-known fact that the tending of young oak stands should be realized by thinnings of intermediate intensity.