Search

In response to the decline of Central European spruce monocultures driven by various factors, the Demonstration Object of Reconstruction of Spruce Forests (DORS) was established in Husárik locality, Javorníky Mts., northwestern Slovakia. The area includes the Husárik trial site, where the applicability and efficiency of different artificial regeneration methods are studied. The trial was established on a 24-ha area cleared following the outbreak of spruce bark beetles in 2011. Its altitude is 800 m a.s.l., aspect NW, slope 30%, the soil is Ranker on the soft flysch sandstone bedrock. Our study covered 4 conifers - Norway spruce (spruce), European larch (larch), silver fir (fir), and Douglas fir (doug fir). Each species was regenerated using 4 different approaches: planting of commercial bareroot transplants (BR), planting of container transplants (CON), direct seeding (DS) and vegetative cell seeding using seed shelters (VCS). Results concerning the nine-year development of transplants and seedlings, along with the calculation of cost-efficiency, are presented. As to the species, BR and CON transplants of spruce and larch reached the best survival and height. The DS larch was the most cost-efficient method of establishment of a successfully established plantation (survival > 50%; stem height > 2/3 of the weed height; ratio of damaged individuals < 50%) with a total cost of 2 372 EUR·ha-1. On the contrary, the slow initial growth of fir and Douglas fir and their extensive damage resulted in the incomparably higher cost of establishment of their successfully established plantation, such as 4 980 EUR·ha-1 for five-years-old BR fir transplants. Our findings documented that current efforts related to the restoration of salvage-felled clearings remained difficult, especially in the case of introduction or reestablishment of coniferous tree species more vulnerable to open site conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a comparison of different artificial regeneration techniques for Norway spruce in the Kysuce Region of Slovakia, which was affected by a spruce bark beetle infestation. The study found that less commonly used techniques, such as containerized transplants and direct seeding, had comparable survival and growth rates to the commonly used bareroot transplants. The document also discusses the importance of proper planting techniques and post-planting care for successful forest regeneration. Additionally, the document references various articles and research papers related to the production and cultivation of Norway spruce seedlings, providing valuable information for researchers and individuals interested in forestry and forest management. [Extracted from the article]