Growth and Morphological Patterns of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) Juveniles in Response to Light Intensities

0564444 - ÚVGZ 2023 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Bednář, P. - Souček, J. - Krejza, Jan - Černý, J.
Growth and Morphological Patterns of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) Juveniles in Response to Light Intensities.
Forests. Roč. 13, č. 11 (2022), č. článku 1804. E-ISSN 1999-4907
Institutional support: RVO:86652079
Keywords : norway spruce * photo-morphological plasticity * light intensities * conifer juveniles * natural regeneration * growth acclimation
OECD category: Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)
Impact factor: 2.9, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/11/1804

(1) Background: The growth and morphology of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) juveniles were observed under different light conditions due to overstory canopy openness. The aim was to investigate the photo-morphological responses of juveniles for the development of a desirable forest structure. The research was located in a higher altitude zone in central Europe. (2) Methods: Light was estimated using hemispherical photographs. Eight different parameters of natural regeneration were measured on individuals within 1 × 1 m around each point on a 3 × 3 m grid. A total of 1214 sapling measurements (from 10 to 431 cm in height) were taken. (3) Results: Light affected the growth and morphological development of juveniles, resulting in variation in the lateral crown growth and crown length. Acclimations manifested as trade-offs between height and lateral crown growth. Similar shifts were found within relative height growth (the terminal length to the total height) and apical dominance ratio (the terminal length to the branch length). The crown length was proven to be highly capable to acclimation. Light influenced the density weakly, however, when a regeneration index (density × median height) was considered, significant relations with light conditions were discovered.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0336107