Production potential and ecological stability of mixed forest stands in uplands – V. A mixed spruce/beech stand on a nutrient-rich site of the Křtiny Training Forest Enterprise

The study is already the 5th account on the production potential and stability of mixed forest stands in uplands. A spruce/beech stand established in the mid-30s of the 20th century is assessed. The stand is situated at an altitude of 470 m and since 1960, it is left to its spontaneous development. At that time, the stand was characterized as a silviculturally neglected dense spruce young growth to a small pole-stage stand with an admixture of beech (spruce 71%, beech 13%). In the course of 41 years, spruce proportion in the stand without intentional thinning measures decreased from 71 to 56% and, vice versa, beech proportion increased from 13 to 31%. Present dominant and co-dominant position of spruce in the stand, its health condition and development in recent years indicate that the ecosystem under evaluation is stabilized fulfilling all functions on the given site at an age of 65 years. The stand is permanently fully stocked and its initial standing volume of 109 m3/ha at an age of 24 years in 1960 increased to 560 m3/ha at an age of 65 years in 2001.