Response of diameter and height increment to thinning in oak-hornbeam coppice in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic

The objective of this paper was to test the hypothesis that growth and soil moisture would increase after heavy thinning in seven years old oak-hornbeam coppice stand. Effects of thinning on (i) diameter and height increment of the remaining sprouts in polycormons, and (ii) soil moisture were studied one year after thinning. The experiment was carried out in the southeastern part of the Czech Republic. Thinning reduced 50% of the total stump basal area per polycormon. One to five dominant sprouts were left. Results showed that thinning significantly increased diameter increment of sessile oak (59%) and European hornbeam (61%). However, thinning did not increase height increment of sessile oak and European hornbeam. Diameter increments of sessile oak and European hornbeam were not different. Height increment of European hornbeam was 30% higher than that of sessile oak in thinned plots and 53% higher in unthinned plots. Soil moisture increased significantly in thinned plots. © 2016, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences. All rights reserved.