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Comparing volume growth in pure and mixed stands of Pinus sylvestris and Quercus pyrenaica

Comparaison de la croissance en volume dans des peuplements purs et des peuplements mixtes de Pinus sylvestris et de Quercus pyrenaica

Annals of Forest Science volume 66, page 502 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • In Mediterranean forestry, it is important to improve knowledge about mixed stands dynamics, including their productivity. Previous studies have focused on the interactions between different species (competition, reduction of competition and facilitation) depending on site, species composition and structure.

  • • At the centre of this research are the possible differences between pure and mixed stands of Pinus sylvestris and Quercus pyrenaica in terms of density-growth relationships and volume growth per species.

  • • Using data from the second and third Spanish National Forest Inventory (606 plots), volume increment models for these species were fitted. Both species displayed a similar density-growth pattern for pure and mixed stands, with a maximum volume growth at maximum density. Volume increment per occupied area was also found to be greater in mixed stands as opposed to pure stands, suggesting a species interaction with reduced levels of competition in the former. However, the total volume growth was generally lower in mixed stands since the growth rate of oak is much lower.

  • • The results highlight the expedience of favouring P. sylvestris-Q. pyrenaica mixed stands with higher proportions of pine trees in order to gain the benefits of a more complex forest whilst retaining an acceptable level of wood production.

Résumé

  • • Dans la foresterie méditerranéenne, il est important d’améliorer les connaissances sur la dynamique des peuplements mixtes, y compris sur leur productivité. Des études antérieures ont mis l’accent sur les interactions entre espèces différentes (concurrence, réduction de la concurrence et facilitation), selon la station, la composition des essences et la structure.

  • • Cette recherche porte sur les différences possibles entre les peuplements purs et les peuplements mixtes de Pinus sylvestris et Quercus pyrenaica en termes de relation densité-croissance et croissance en volume par espèce.

  • • À partir des données du deuxième et du troisième Inventaire Forestier National Espagnol (606 placettes), des modèles d’accroissement en volume pour ces espèces ont été ajustés. Les deux espèces ont affiché un modèle densité-croissance similaire pour les peuplements purs et les peuplements mixtes, avec un volume maximum de croissance à une densité maximale. L’accroissement de volume par zone occupée a également été trouvé plus important dans les peuplements mixtes plutôt que dans les peuplements purs, ce qui suggère une interaction entre espèces avec réduction des niveaux de concurrence dans celui-là. Toutefois, la croissance totale en volume a été généralement plus faible dans les peuplements mixtes puisque le taux de croissance du chêne est beaucoup plus faible.

  • • Les résultats soulignent l’opportunité de favoriser les peuplements mixtes P. sylvestris-Q. pyrenaica avec une proportion plus élevée de pins afin d’obtenir les avantages d’une forêt plus complexe, tout en conservant un niveau acceptable de production de bois.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Research Unit INIA-UVa on Sustainable Forest Management, Spain

    Miren del Río

  2. Dep. Sistemas y Recursos Forestales CIFOR-INIA, Ctra. A Coruña, km 7.5, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Miren del Río

  3. Dept. of Forest and Soil Sciences, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Peter Jordanstrasse 82, Vienna, Austria

    Hubert Sterba

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  1. Miren del Río
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Correspondence to Miren del Río.

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del Río, M., Sterba, H. Comparing volume growth in pure and mixed stands of Pinus sylvestris and Quercus pyrenaica . Ann. For. Sci. 66, 502 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009035

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X