We conducted dendrochronological and dendroclimatological investigations of European chestnut (Castanea sativa) from the sites in Poljanska dolina, Slovenia. We analyzed tree-ring widths of 18 trees. We took discs from felled trees, dried them and took 2 radial samples from each of them. These samples were labelled and sanded. We measured tree-ring widths, cross-dated and dated them. With help of TSAP Win program we constructed raw tree-ring chronology, and with help of ARSTAN program the raw and residual local chronology of tree-ring widths. The chronology of chestnut was 83 years long, and covered the period of 1925-2008. The signature years were calculated as well. Special attention was given to trees where the increment fell below 0.5 mm, possibly due to activity of pests generally endangering the survival of chestnut in Slovenia. Dendroclimatological analysis with DENDROCLIM 2002 program showed that precipitations do not have statistically significant impact on tree-ring variation in chestnut. On the other hand temperatures of previous October and current January have statistically significant positive impact on tree-ring variation. Comparisons of chestnut tree-ring chronology to the chronologies of other tree species from different sites in Slovenia have shown that the chronology of chestnut does not statistically significantly agree with chronologies of oak, beech or fir from different sites in Slovenia. This was also shown by comparing the results of dendroclimatological analyses.
|
