Conversion of Pinus nigra plantations with natural regeneration in the Slovenian Karst : the importance of intermediate, gradually formed canopy gaps

Diaci, Jurij (author), Adamič, Tomaž (author), Rozman, Andrej (author), Fidej, Gal (author), Roženbergar, Dušan (author)

Since the mid-19th century, Pinus nigra plantations have played a key role in the restoration of degraded European landscapes. Nowadays, these plantations are aging and prone to natural disturbances, insect infestations, and diseases. For their successful gradual conversion, knowledge of optimal gap spatiotemporal dynamics is crucial. We studied herb and natural regeneration patterns along with site factors on 477 subplots within 44 plots distributed over four stand types: closed stand (14% diffuse light), open stand (21%), gap edge (23%), and gap (57%). Despite the abundant Quercus petraea, Q. cerris, and Q. pubescens mast year, no one-year seedlings were recorded, which is likely due to the summer drought. Short seedlings (h < 20 cm) of Quercus sp., Fraxinus ornus and Ostrya carpinifolia were more successful within closed stands. Short Quercus seedlings were positively associated with soil depth and negatively associated with soil nutrients, distance to seed trees, and Sesleria autumnalis coverage. Taller Quercus seedlings required more light than both of its strongest competitors and were positively related to humid soils and less rocky sites. Ungulate overbrowsing significantly impeded natural regeneration. The results indicate a satisfactory Quercus density for conversion and the importance of advanced regeneration, which should be gradually, but persistently, released by progressively widening gaps.

• Language: English
• Keywords: gap partitioning, microsite partitioning, topsoil moisture, microrelief, ground vegetation, overbrowsing, conversion, Pinus nigra, natural regeneration
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2019
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 10, iss. 12, art. 1136
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-114124
• UDC: 630*22
• ISSN on article: 1999-4907
• DOI: 10.3390/f10121136
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5605030
• Publication date in RUL: 18.02.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Forests
• Shortened title: Forests
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1999-4907
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3872166

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 12.12.2019

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: velikost vrzeli, mikrorastišča, vlaga tal, talna vegetacija, objedanje rastlinojede divjadi, gozdovi