GROWTH OF DIFFERENTLY THINNED BEECH STANDS ESTABLISHED BY ARTIFICIAL REGENERATION

Beech stands are usually regenerated naturally, however this method is not applicable in all sites, which are planned for afforestation by beech. Especially, artificial regeneration is necessary for conversion of spruce stands, which were previously established on unsuitable localities. This begs the question whether in case of artificially regenerated beech stands, it is appropriate to use traditional thinning methods based on naturally regenerated stands, which usually have higher stand density. Therefore, the aim of presented paper was the initial evaluation of growth and development of differently thinned young (30-year-old) beech stands on two experimental series. Our results showed, that thinning supported periodical increment of stand basal area and also led to lower amount of salvage cut only in experiment located at lower elevation (345 m). Effect of thinning on diameter increment of dominant trees was no-uniform in both experiments at elevation 345 and 890 m. Quotient of slenderness for dominant trees achieved favourable values regardless of thinning on both experiments.