Effect of thinning and reduced throughfall in young coppice dominated by Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Carpinus betulus L

Abstract

The effects of thinning and reduced throughfall on soil moisture and the diameter and height increments of sessile oak and European hornbeam sprouts were studied in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic. Thinning was performed by reducing the basal area by 50% in each stool. Reduced throughfall (a reduction of 30%) was achieved by constructing parallel drainage channels. Diameter and height increments and soil moisture were measured. Reduced throughfall had no statistically signiffcant effect on the diameter relative growth rate (RGR) of sessile oak and European hornbeam one year after thinning. However, thinning had a statistically signiffcant effect on the diameter RGRs of sessile oak and European hornbeam. The height RGRs of sessile oak and European hornbeam were not influenced by thinning and reduced throughfall. Soil moisture was statistically signiffcantly affected only by thinning. The reduced throughfall and the available water capacity reduced by the stoniness and thickness of the soil genetic horizon (AWCred) was used as a covariate had no signiffcant effects on soil moisture. The effect of thinning on the diameter RGR was statistically signiffcant for both studied species. The effect of thinning on soil moisture was statistically signiffcant. Currently, published data on the effect of reduced throughfall on oak-hornbeam coppice in Central Europe are unique.