The effect of climate on radial growth of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in the Świętokrzyski National Park in central Poland

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to construct a site tree-ring width chronology of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) growing in a single locality situated in the Świętokrzyski National Park, and to determine its sensitivity to the two main climatic elements of air temperature and precipitation. Fifteen horse chestnut trees, growing on a moist site and not attacked by the leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka et Dimić), were selected for the study. Relationships between monthly values of air temperature, precipitation, and width of tree rings during 1932–2003 were analyzed, in addition to using bootstrapped response and correlation functions for single and multiple time intervals (the computer program DENDROCLIM2002 was used). High air temperature of the previous winter, as well as the air temperature of August of a given growing season positively affected the radial growth of horse chestnut. The cambium activity was also favored by ample precipitation in December preceding a given growing season. Excessive precipitation in August, which raised the existing high water table, had a negative effect on tree-ring width. The tree-ring chronology, elaborated for horse chestnut during this study, may be a local growth standard of this species. Thus, the model of climate—tree radial increment relationships may depend on characteristics of the locality where the trees are growing. Therefore, it would be advisable to undertake comparative studies.