Abstract
The main goal of this study is to analyse and interpret interspecific differences in foliage biomass/area and woody parts biomass as well as the ratio between quantities of foliage and woody components (i.e., branches, stem and roots). The study was principally aimed at determining basic biomass allocation patterns and growth efficiency (GE) of four broadleaved species, specifically common aspen (Populus tremula L.), European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) in young growth stages. We performed whole-tree sampling at 32 sites located in central and northern parts of Slovakia. We sampled over 700 trees and nearly 4900 leaves to quantify biomass of woody parts and foliage traits at leaf and tree levels. Moreover, we estimated specific leaf area in three parts of the crown, i.e., the upper, middle and lower thirds. We found that hornbeam had the largest foliage biomass and the lowest foliage area of all investigated species, while its biomass of woody parts did not differ from aspen and sycamore. Birch had the lowest biomass of woody parts, although its foliage properties were similar to those of aspen. Intraspecific differences of foliage were related to tree size and to leaf position along the vertical crown profile. Growth efficiency (GE), expressed as woody biomass production per foliage area unit, was evidently larger in hornbeam than in the other three broadleaves. We suggest that future GE modelling should utilize real values of stem diameter increment measured in a current year, bio–sociological position of trees and competition indicators as inputs. Such an approach would elucidate the role of stand structure and tree species mixture for ecological and production properties of forest stands.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Hornbeam had the largest foliage biomass.
Verbatim
e0“hornbeam had the largest foliage biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
Hornbeam had the lowest foliage area.
Verbatim
e0“hornbeam had the largest foliage biomass and the lowest foliage area”
Claim · model-written summary
Hornbeam woody biomass did not differ from aspen and sycamore.
Verbatim
e0“its biomass of woody parts did not differ from aspen and sycamore”
t0“European hornbeam”
Claim · model-written summary
Birch had the lowest woody biomass.
Verbatim
e0“Birch had the lowest biomass of woody parts”
Claim · model-written summary
Birch foliage properties were similar to aspen.
Verbatim
e0“its foliage properties were similar to those of aspen”
t0“silver birch”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliage differences within species related to tree size.
- Taxon
- Four Broadleaved Tree Speciest0
- Organ / stage
- tree sizee0
- Outcome
- Intraspecific differences of foliagee0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Intraspecific differences of foliage were related to tree size”
t0“Four Broadleaved Tree Species”
Claim · model-written summary
Foliage differences within species related to vertical crown leaf position.
- Taxon
- Four Broadleaved Tree Speciest0
- Organ / stage
- leaf position along the vertical crown profilee0
- Outcome
- Intraspecific differences of foliagee0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Intraspecific differences of foliage were related to tree size and to leaf position along the vertical crown profile.”
t0“Four Broadleaved Tree Species”
Claim · model-written summary
Hornbeam growth efficiency exceeded that of the other three species.
Verbatim
e0“Growth efficiency (GE), expressed as woody biomass production per foliage area unit, was evidently larger in hornbeam than in the other three broadleaves.”