About the effects of competition on individual tree growth in mountain forests

The request of this study is to find out the most suitable competition indices to model individual tree growth in mountain forests. Therefore proved and modified competition algorithms were used in combination with profound data from 61 longterm experimental plots. The performance of the competition models is evaluated by nonlinear increment models, Beneath growth reactions on competition, where the reactions depend on tree species and social height classes, also site specific effects were presented as well as the most qualified indices. It is shown that an adaption of search algorithms concerning slope and aspect provide a high improvement of the correlation between increment and competition.