Inter- and intra-annual dynamics of height increment in young beech and spruce stands in relation to tree size and weather conditions

We investigated the seasonal dynamics of height increment, as well as total annual height increment, in 2009-2013 on young stands of beech and spruce grown at the same site. The results showed that the inter-annual dynamics of basic stand characteristics, especially tree density, were more obvious in spruce than in beech stands. Much higher tree mortality in spruce was explained by a lower light intensity under the spruce stand canopy and higher tolerance of beech to shade. Large interspecific differences were also found in the timing of height increment. Specifically, the height increment of beech trees started earlier than those of spruce. Moreover, the terminal grew for longer in spruce (nearly 70 days) compared to beech (about 45 days). The comparisons between the courses of the height increment and the ambient factors suggested that global radiation played a principal role. In the beech stand, the maximum height increment rate occurred during the same days as the maximal global radiation in 2009 and 2011, while a decline of the height increment occurred simultaneously with a depression in global radiation in 2012. As for the spruce stand, its one-peak maxima in height increment were related to the maximum of global radiation in 2009 and in 2012. On the other hand, double-peak courses of height increment in 2010 and 2011 may have been related to sudden declines in global radiation. Interspecific differences in height increment timing might play a certain role in cases of unfavourable weather conditions, e.g. drought episodes in the middle part of the growing season when the height increment would be accomplished in beech but would still be ongoing in spruce.