Prove di avviamento ad altofusto in un ceduo di cerro (Quercus cerris L.) del Gargano: primi risultati

Conversion trials in turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) coppices of Gargano (Puglia, Italy): first results. Six plots have been drawn in an aged turkish oak coppice stand, 35 years after last clearcut. Compared treatments are: natural evolution of the coppice without thinning versus two thinning regimes with different intensity, both aimed to convert the stands into high forests. From 600 to 800 stems per hectare were released in the conversion plots. Plots, drawn and treated in 1996, have been measured before and immediately after thinning and remeasured five and ten years later. Conversion is successfully proceeding, the stands are assuming a high forest structure with a markedly dominated understory layer. In control plots many stems died while in the thinned stands no damage or significant natural selection occurred.