<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>We analysed the quantity and quality of <italic>Quercus robur</italic> L. acorns after years with a very poor yield under the canopy of natural oak stands of various compositions, ages and stock densities in the northeastern part of Ukraine. We determined the mass of 1,000 healthy and damaged acorns of the current year. The levels of variability were estimated for the number and mass of acorns under the canopy of the studied stands. The dependences of the number of acorns on the age of oak stands and their stock density were studied. The total number of acorns under the canopy of natural oak stands was 9,900–19,000 seeds per hectare with a total mass of 26.8–54.1 kg per hectare in 2020 and 8,600–17,200 seeds per hectare with a total mass of 22.7–48.4 kg per hectare in 2021. The proportion of damaged acorns was about 70% both in 2020 and 2021. The largest number of acorns was concentrated under healthy trees (without signs of decline) that had a well-developed crown and, therefore, received more sunlight and heat. The identified quantitative and qualitative estimates and acorn spreading pattern need to be considered when selecting sites for further natural seed regeneration in old-aged oak stands.</p>
</abstract>

We analysed the quantity and quality of Quercus robur L. acorns after years with a very poor yield under the canopy of natural oak stands of various compositions, ages and stock densities in the northeastern part of Ukraine. We determined the mass of 1,000 healthy and damaged acorns of the current year. The levels of variability were estimated for the number and mass of acorns under the canopy of the studied stands. The dependences of the number of acorns on the age of oak stands and their stock density were studied. The total number of acorns under the canopy of natural oak stands was 9,900–19,000 seeds per hectare with a total mass of 26.8–54.1 kg per hectare in 2020 and 8,600–17,200 seeds per hectare with a total mass of 22.7–48.4 kg per hectare in 2021. The proportion of damaged acorns was about 70% both in 2020 and 2021. The largest number of acorns was concentrated under healthy trees (without signs of decline) that had a well-developed crown and, therefore, received more sunlight and heat. The identified quantitative and qualitative estimates and acorn spreading pattern need to be considered when selecting sites for further natural seed regeneration in old-aged oak stands.

Acorn production of pedunculate oak in northeast of Ukraine

Forestry Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Acorn production of pedunculate oak in northeast of Ukraine"}

We analysed the quantity and quality of Quercus robur L. acorns after years with a very poor yield under the canopy of natural oak stands of various...

Acorn production of pedunculate oak in northeast of Ukraine

Article Category: Research paper

Published Online: Nov 09, 2023

Page range: 14 - 27

Received: Feb 14, 2023

Accepted: Mar 31, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2023-0002

© 2023 Maksym Rumiantsev et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.