Response of planted beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) saplings to herbaceous and small shrubs control on clearcuts

Abstract

The reaction of young beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) saplings on competition of two types of vegetation—(1) gramineous with mainly Agrostis capillaries, Calamagrostis epigejos, Deschampsia flexuosa, and (2) small shrubs with mainly Rubus fruticosus and R. idaeus—on clear cuts on two sites was studied for 2 years. Half the sample saplings were released from competing vegetation by repeated herbicide applications. This treatment significantly raised the diameter increment in both species at the site with higher competition intensity, and more strongly after the removal of small shrubs than after the removal of grasses. Sapling length increment was not significantly affected. After being released from small shrubs, saplings of both species developed a smaller specific fine root length (cm g−1 fine root biomass) than unreleased saplings during the second year which was characterized by low rainfall. Root nitrogen concentration significantly increased after weed control in both vegetation types. Sapling foliar content of main nutritional elements was negatively related to dry mass and total chemical content of surrounding ground vegetation. Based on these results, a release from ground vegetation could be a useful tool to improve growth of planted beech and Douglas-fir saplings on sites with well-developed small shrubs competition (mainly by Rubus fruticosus and R. idaeus), or under fairly dry conditions.