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This review article summarises the results of research on forest liming, fertilisation, nutrition flows and cycles in selected European and other countries. The presented studies mostly deal with assessing the effect of liming and fertilisation applied during planting or shortly after planting. The sporadic studies on fertilisation in older stands are also presented. The application of crushed limestone, dolomite or other alkaline rocks or their mixtures is usually used to improve the soil conditions on a large area through the adjustment of soil acidity and to supply any deficient elements, especially calcium and magnesium. These amendments are typically used on naturally nutrient-poor soils or as a curative technique to neutralise the soil chemistry affected by anthropogenic acidification. Artificial fertilisers are usually applied on small spots to individual trees on the surface of the soil shortly after planting or into a planting hole during planting. The purpose is to give some initial support to young trees to better overcome the post-planting shock and to accelerate the height growth. Less frequently, artificial fertilisers are used on large areas of forest stands for the purpose of increasing stem growth. The methods and the extent of forest fertilisation substantially vary in individual countries and different time periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the time of ongoing climate change and the increasing area of post-mining landscape, the successful afforestation of reclamation sites by suitable adaptive tree species is gaining in importance. One of possible ways may be the use of introduced tree species, which is, however, a controversial topic in relation to risks for forest management and nature conservation. The objective of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the forest stands (age 48 years) of 9 introduced and 3 native coniferous tree species in lowland post-mining coal site of the Czech Republic. The research was focused on production potential, health status, resistance to climate change, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and soil properties. The highest timber production, biomass and carbon stock (49–95% above average), was observed in case of Pinus sylvestris, P. nigra and Pseudotsuga menziesii. On the other hand, unsuitable habitat, insect and pathogens caused poor health status and extremely low production parameters (by 55–62% than average) in Pinus strobus and P. rotundata. In terms of climate, Pinus sylvestris, P. nigra, Larix decidua, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Picea omorika were the most resistance tree species in relation to climatic extremes. Conversely, Pinus rotundata, P. strobus, P. ponderosa, Picea pungens and P. abies were very sensitive to climate events, especially to the lack of precipitation in vegetation period with synergism of high temperature. In terms of soil parameters, the content of plant available nutrients (K, Ca, Mg) was adequate except P deficiency. The highest soil reaction was detected for Pinus nigra and P. sylvestris (pH 6.9–7.1) compared to Picea mariana (pH 4.8). The benefits of "suitable" introduced tree species (Pinus nigra, Pseudotsuga menziesii) are high timber production potential and good adaptation and mitigation of the changing climate; however, native tree species (Pinus sylvestris, Larix decidua) can provide better environmental benefits on reclamation sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most important tree species in Eurasia. During the past centuries, it has been extensively introduced into artificial monocultures, but is currently experiencing a number of problems related to climate change and extreme droughts. There is a large-scale disintegration of its stands and, in addition to its replacement by other native trees, it is possible to use a wide range of introduced species of the same genus. The aim of the investigation was to compare production parameters, structure and diversity of pine stands at the age of 35 years in school Arboretum of Faculty of Forestry and Wood Science in Central Bohemia (320 m a.s.l., medium rich habitats, water deficit site). Seven species of pine were compared: ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Hawson), Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Balf.), black pine (Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas), Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.) and the only native Scots pine. The results showed that significantly (P < 0.001) highest height, diameter at breast height and mean stem volume were achieved in Pinus ponderosa and P. strobus stands, while these parameters were lowest in P. peuce and P. nigra. In contrast, the lowest stand volume was calculated for P. strobus (112 m3·ha-1) due to the lower stand density, while the highest production was again in P. ponderosa (430 m3·ha-1). In terms of structural variability, the highest diversity was found in P. jeffreyi and P. peuce. The introduced pine species, especially P. ponderosa, could therefore play an important role in terms of production and economic potential and even replace native P. sylvestris on suitable sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the agricultural landscape, thousands of animals are killed yearly as a result of agricultural machinery innovation, mostly because of a higher harvesting speed and wider cutting bars. Harvesting machines besides predation by red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) on roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) in the intensively managed cultural landscape are the most crucial factor in fawn mortality. This article offers an evaluation of the mostly used preventive methods, which aim to drive roe deer does along with their fawns out of fodder meadows prepared for harvest in the Czech Republic. Evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of the different methods was made based on the questionnaire survey published in a professional hunting journal. The assessment of responses from a survey was followed by a field-based investigation conducted before fodder harvesting. The devices studied for efficiency were acoustic, optical and scent deterrents in comparison to the traditional search method combined with volunteers and hunting dogs. The results show differences in the number of fawns saved per hectare. A significant difference was found only between the optical deterrent method (0.4 fawns saved per hectare) and traditional search method (0.09 fawns saved per hectare). This study found no substantial difference among various deterring devices in terms of their effectiveness in reducing the mortality of roe deer fawns. Thus, it is important to explore the innovative methods in the future that can work most effectively for saving not only deer fawns, but also other game animals in the cultural landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the production potential (and limits) of the forests in the Czech Republic (CR). The calculation respects ecological limits set by typological system and the Czech forestry legislation. The key criterion of the production evaluation is the total mean increment. Usually, a forest owner can choose amongst several variants of management. The analysis in this work examines the two limit variants - the minimum and maximum production potential. The results show that, e.g., the Norway spruce share might be 19 to 48% of the total area of Czech forests (51.4% at present). The target management the owners opt for (Norway spruce, pine, oak, and beech) can, in the future, influence the timber processing industry, the main purchaser of timber raw material from Czech forests. The maximum variant shows 9,134 thousand m3 of available coniferous round timber, while the minimum one only 3,802 thousand m³ per year. Therefore, the timber processing industry should keep a close watch on the situation and either try to persuade forest owners to choose the alternative of the target management that would provide sufficient assortment for timber processing, or adjust the manufacture to the possible changes in the species composition of the forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests occupy one third of the world's land area and govern carbon (C) transfers and influence nitrogen (N) content in the biosphere. Afforestation leads to soil changes of specific dynamics, often accompanied by acidification. Especially at higher altitudes this effect is accelerated and increased with the stand age since forestation. The change in soil C and N content following afforestation is controlled by a number of factors, including: previous land use (grasslands, cropland, etc.), tree species, soil cultivation method, soil properties (clay content, pH), stand age, site management, topography, and climate. In the Czech Republic, large area changes in land use took place in the last centuries -- forests covering roughly 20% in the 18th century currently occupy almost 34%, with still increasing tendencies. This paper compares basic soil properties (soil reaction, total soil organic carbon as well as total nitrogen contents) of the agricultural land and land afforested 40-60 years ago. The results confirmed the key role of afforestation in the change of soil organic matter dynamics after establishing new forests on the former agricultural lands in the uppermost mineral soil part of the Orlické hory Mts. region in the Czech Republic. During that time, comparatively substantial changes in soil organic matter and nitrogen were registered. Afforestation considerably increased organic matter content in the studied A-horizons of different land use types. Soil development resulted in a high production of C and N pools under the forest stands, contrary to agricultural land. In general, afforestation caused significant soil acidification. The common tendency of higher acidity of forest soils compared to agricultural ones was documented in the studied case as well. The general tendencies of soil reaction and soil organic matter dynamics at the studied sites are comparable to those in other regions of the Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper summarises the results concerning the effects of cultivation of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii /Mirb./ Franco), especially in the last decades, on the intensity of production as well as non-production forest functions in the conditions of the Czech Republic and Slovak Republics. It analyses the research outcomes from the point of volume and value production in comparison with other native tree species, from the point of species effects on the soil and on the ground vegetation diversity, and from the point of stability and cultivation in the last period. The main aim was to compare this species with Norway spruce, which can be replaced by Douglas fir in suitable conditions. Douglas fir can have a favourable impact on the amount and the value of timber production, as well as on the soil and the biodiversity of ground vegetation. The stability of forest stands can also be considerably supported in this way. Hence, Douglas-fir represents a suitablealternative to Norway spruce at lower and middle altitudes and it can contribute to greater competitiveness of the Czech as well as Slovak forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have recently been devoted to the study of landscape change, and some have even focused on an analysis of the dynamics of forest cover change. However, few of the studies have worked on a methodology for making a detailed investigation of long-term forest change dynamics based on historic cartographic sources. The goal of this study is to further develop a method for analyzing long-term changes in forest cover on the basis of old maps and orthophoto maps in the GIS environment. The study area is located in Central Bohemia, to the east of Kutná Hora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area consists of 21 cadastral units with a total area of 113 km. The maps of the First (1780), Second (1851) and Third Military Surveys (1877) and the present-day orthophotomap (2007) of the Czech Republic were used as data resources. Source data have been processed in GIS. Forest cover is the subject of our study. However, the term is perceived from a broader perspective. What we call forest cover in our study refers to forest wood elements and other wood species in the landscape. In this study, forest cover has been structurally considered as a whole, without dividing it into the two categories mentioned. We counted the extent of the forest cover in each particular time horizon in hectares and as a percentage of the area under study, also the absolute changes in forest cover between the individual time horizons in hectares as well as the intensity of the changes in forest cover in hectares per year. The spatial changes in forest cover were evaluated in a GIS environment using specialized features to analyze spatial variation. The forest cover occupied 16.60% (1,880 ha) of the total area in the First Military Survey (1780). In 2007, the proportion was slightly higher at 16.64% (1,884 ha). More than half of all forest land (53%) from the time of the Second Military Survey (1851) survived until 2007. Not only the information on absolute changes but also the information on the rate of change is of great importance. The old Military Survey maps and the orthophotomap enable us to carry out studies of long-term changes in forest cover. However, the geodetic inaccuracy of the First Military Survey maps precludes reliable and exact quantification of the landscape changes between the First Military Survey and the Second Military Survey, and also between the First Military Survey and present-day (orthophoto map). These maps cannot be used for evaluating forest cover changes on the level of individual plots. The method presented in our paper may contribute to a better understanding of the long-term dynamics of forest land, covering a period of more than 250 years. This knowledge can be applied in forest management planning procedures. Apart from their application in forestry, the methods presented in this study may be of interest for historians and biologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed lowland forests reserved for natural succession are sparse in the Czech Republic. However, their development provides essential insights into the natural processes of these forests and recommendations for forest management in a changing climate. The research describes the dynamics, productivity, structure, diversity, dead wood, and radial growth of hornbeam-oak groves and calcareous beech-dominated forests in the Karlštejn National Nature Reserve (Czechia) based on inventory in 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2020. The objective was to evaluate changes in differently managed stands (high forest, coppice with standards, and coppice) after leaving the stands to spontaneous development in 2004. The tree density increased by 2-10% from 2002 to 2014 and decreased by 618% in 2020. In the high forest, an increase in the stand volume was observed during the whole period, while in the coppice with standards and coppice, only until 2014. The stand volume ranged from 190 (coppice) to 630 (high forest) m³ ha-1 in 2020 and increased by an average of 28% over 18 years. Overall diversity of tree layer showed an uneven structure in the high forest and a substantially diverse structure in the other variants. The deadwood volume has been steadily increasing (18-35 m³ ha-1 in 2020), accumulating an average of 1 m³ ha-1 yr-1. A lack of precipitation and high temperatures from June to August were the main limiting factors of the radial growth of tree species, while the number of negative pointer years has increased in the last decade. European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) was the most sensitive tree species to climate compared to the resilient European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). The lowest fluctuations in the diameter increment were recorded in Norway maple (Acer platanoides L.) and the highest in beech in the temperature cycles of 7-15 years. Over the last 20 years, sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.] showed an increase in radial growth by 7%, while other tree species reported a decrease with a maximum in beech (by -38%). The forest stands managed as high forest, characterized by a higher production potential and lower diversity, had slower dynamics when compared to coppice with standards and coppice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jizerské hory Mts. (the Czech Republic) are part of the Black Triangle region strongly affected by a decline and dieback of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) stands since the 1970s. In the studied peaty spruce stands in the summit parts of the Jizerské hory Mts., the health status, radial growth and foliar nutrient content in relation to air pollution (SO2, NOX and O3) and climate factors (temperature, precipitation) were investigated in 1960-2015. A considerable disturbance of the stand structure induced by an increased mortality was observed in 1981-1983 when more than a half of the tree individuals died. Severe defoliation occurred in 1981 as a consequence of the synergic effects of air pollution, winter desiccation and spruce bark beetle outbreak, as well as in 2015 due to the drought and high temperatures. Tree ring analyses indicated significant growth depression in 1979-1987, a period of the highest SO2 load, and in 2010-2015. Foliation and diameter increment were significantly influenced by SO2 and NOX concentrations, the maximum daily concentration being the most negative factor; no significant correlation of the ozone exposure was detected, though. Foliar analyses also document significant negative impacts of air pollutants on the nutrient status of forest stands, mainly in the increase of the sulphur level. Since 1990, a significant increase in calcium and magnesium has been observed, as a result of forest liming. Interaction between radial growth and temperature was stronger compared to precipitation. Low temperatures and high precipitation in growing season were the limiting factors for radial growth in waterlogged mountain areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biomass production and total C stocks, were compared for six native tree species 14 years after afforestation. • Biomass production dramatically differ between 200.8 t ha−1 for Acer and 28.4 t ha−1 for Fagus. • Total carbon quantity differs significantly as well between 125.1 t ha−1 for Tilia and 35.8 t ha−1 for Fagus. • The total carbon balance was 67.4% stored in the tree biomass, and 32.6% in the soil. The increasing trend of afforestation is described in almost all European countries, however, the knowledge of the growth parameters of particular tree species on abandoned agricultural land is still incomplete. Therefore, the characteristics of young forest stands which are afforested with 5 native tree species (Norway spruce, European beech, English oak, sycamore maple, and small-leaved lime) were analyzed 14 years after afforestation. Afforestation had a positive influence on the soil physical characteristics with the highest porosity (58.2%) in spruce stands and water saturation (48.5%) in oak stands. Maple had the fastest initial growth and production with the highest mean annual increment (12.1 m3 ha−1 y-1) and total biomass production (200.8 t ha−1). Contrarily, the lowest production parameters were found in the beech stands with a low mean annual increment (1.4 m3 ha−1 y-1) and total biomass production (28.4 t ha−1). The most abundant carbon quantity in the soil and tree biomass together was sequestered in lime (125.1 t ha−1) followed by maple stands (124.5 t ha−1). On average, the total carbon balance was 67.4% stored in the tree biomass, and 32.6% in the soil for tree species evaluated together. The amount of carbon sequestered in the soil will increase in the following years in relation to overlying humus development, incorporation of soil organic carbon in the mineral soil horizons, as well as with tree biomass production. The study demonstrated a significant difference in growth potential, biomass production, soil transformation and carbon sequestration in native tree species stands established on former agricultural lands. Most importantly, the differences in carbon sequestration should be considered in future agricultural land afforestation to mitigate the negative impact of global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate how plant species’ composition, soil parameters and nutrient concentrations in plant biomass differ between fertilized and control plots 62 years after the last fertilizer application on a sub-alpine grassland. A piece of land called the Grass Garden (GG), fertilized with wood ash and manure for at least 200 years, was rediscovered in the Giant Mts. (Krkonoše, Karkonosze) in 2006. The last fertilization was applied in 1944. The central part of GG (treatment A), the edge of GG (treatment B) and never-fertilized control plots outside of GG (treatment C) were distinguished. Sixty-two years after the last fertilization Nardus stricta was dominant in treatment C and Deschampsia cespitosa and Avenella flexuosa in treatments A and B. The predominance of these grasses was first described in 1786 and repeatedly during the 19th and 20th centuries and indicated the long-term stability of plant species’ composition in the sub-alpine grassland. In the case of GG, long-term fertilization has had a long-term “stable after-effect” upon differences in plant species’ composition. Ca concentration in the soil was more than two times higher in treatments A and B than in the control, indicating that it was very difficult to deplete applied Ca even on extreme podzol soils and under the climatic conditions of the sub-alpine vegetation belt. In above-ground plant biomass, Mg and P concentrations and N:P ratio were still significantly affected by treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]