engleski

The influence of climate and relief properties on crown condition status of Common beech -a case study of Medvednica massif, Croatia

Twelve forest research plots, with complete crown condition data sets in the period 2004-2006 were chosen to represent the variety of environmental conditions present on Medvednica massif in the western Pannonian region of Croatia. The climate data from the meteorological station Puntijarka were used for the analysis of the influence of climate properties on crown condition of Common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Climate parameters used in the model included annual precipitation (AP), precipitation in the vegetation period (VP), mean annual air temperature (AT), and mean air temperature in the vegetation period (VT). Elevation (EL) of the experimental plots and data from the meteorological station were used to obtain the estimate of the AT, VT, AP and VP on each research plot. The share of moderately to severely damaged trees (crown defoliation over 25%) was highest in 2004, an expected result of the 2003 drought. This value was significantly higher than in the following two years. The determining climate parameter explaining the changes in defoliation was VP, and the most determining relief parameter was EL. Defoliation was higher with low VP and higher EL.

Climate parameters; crown condition; relief properties; beech

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