Growth and structure of Italian alder (alnus cordata /loisel./ duby) linear plantation at age 11 and 16 years at Fruska Gora (Serbia)

Abstract

Growth and structure of Italian alder (Alnus cordata /Loisel/ Duby) trees were analyzed Us a linear plantation established by planting two-year-old seedlings at Fruska Gora (Serbia). The aim of this paper is to point out the growth characteristics and the structure of the Italian alder linear plantation at age 11 and 16 years and contribute to the knowledge of adaptive and productive potential of the species in the available plantation in Serbia. The spacing between the trees was 7 m (200 trees per hectare). The plantation is located on anthropogenically changed pedun cul ate oak and hornbeam site at 125 m above sea level. On the basis of 35 measured trees at age 11 and 16 years, the top height was 15 and 21 m, and the Lorey's mean height 13.4 and 19.5 m. The dominant diameter was 32.4 cm at age 11 and 59.4 cm at age 16 years. The mean quadratic diameter was 25.1 and 47 cm.The productivity of the plantation is high. At age 11 years, the basal area was 9.9 m(2).ha(-1), and the standing volume 107.2 m(3).ha(-1)while at age 16 years, it was 34.7 m(2).ha(-1) and 305.1 m(3).ha(-1), respectively. In the period from 11 to 16 years of age, the periodic annual increment in diameter was 4.4 cm.year(-1), height 1.22 m.year(-1), and in basal area and volume 4.9 m(2).ha(-1).year(-1) and 39.6 m(3).ha(-1).year(-1), respectively, pointing to fast growth of Italian alder. Despite the limits due to a small sample and the fact that the linear plantation was analyzed, we generalise the following conclusion: the measured growth characteristics at age 11 and 16 years of Italian alder trees show that the species can grow fast and could be usable in similar areas.