Research of Growth Dynamics of Selected Deciduous Trees for the Needs of Landscape Architecture

Abstract

The main target of the research was to compare the growth dynamics of woody plants in relation to their age, specifically in individuals up to 10 years after planting. Five fast-growing species (Fraxinus excelsior, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Ulmus laevis, Ulmus minor) and four control species (Acer campestre, Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium, Tilia cordata) were selected. The model site is part of the regional biocentre in Brno. It is a warm area with an increased groundwater level. The planting took place in 2011. Evaluation was done at the turn of 2016/2017 and included measuring the following attributes: the overall height of the specimen, the annual increment of the terminal shoot and the annual increment of six lateral shoots. The highest average values were observed in Populus nigra which, in the context of close results of individual specimens, can be attributed the overall highest growth dynamics. The average terminal shoot increment exceeded 50 cm in all species except for Tilia cordata; in Populus alba and Populus nigra it exceeded 100 cm. Generally, the values of Carpinus betulus, Prunus avium and Tilia cordata were mutually comparable and at the same time lower than the values of woody plants labelled as fast growing. The results for Acer campestre were close to the category of fast-growing species.