Comparison between tree dieback of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash in relation to ecological constitution of species

Pojava odumiranja stabala hrasta lužnjaka (Quercus robur L.) i poljskog jasena (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl) gospodarski je i ekološki problem. Čimbenici koji uzrokuju odumiranje stabala mogu biti biotski, stanišni i strukturni odnosno sastojinski.Istraživanje je provedeno u gospodarskoj jedinici „Zelenika” u Posavini. Ciljevi ovog istraživanja bili su utvrditi prosječnu stopu promjene intenziteta odumiranja stabala hrasta lužnjaka i poljskog jasena, istražiti utjecaj stanišnih i strukturnih čimbenika na intenzitete odumiranja te usporediti intenzitete odumiranja hrasta lužnjaka i poljskog jasena prema dobnom razredu sastojina i mikroreljefu. Za analizu su korišteni podaci o klimi za meteorološku postaju Novska, vodostaju vodotoka Novska te podaci o razinama podzemne vode sa pjezometarske postaje „Zelenika“. Iz obrazaca O-2 Osnove gospodarenja, prikupljeni su podaci o volumenu odumrlih stabala hrasta lužnjaka i poljskog jasena te podaci o strukturnim čimbenicima. Intenziteti odumiranja izračunati su na temelju odnosa volumena odumrlih stabala po jedinici površine. S obzirom na prosječnu stopu promjene, intenziteti odumiranja hrasta lužnjaka i poljskog jasena se povećavaju. Najveći intenziteti odumiranja za obje šumske vrste su u sastojinama VI. dobnog razreda. Na osnovi provedenih istraživanja možemo zaključiti da klimatski, hidrološki i strukturni čimbenici imaju utjecaj na odumiranje hrasta lužnjaka i poljskog jasena. Hrast lužnjak osjetljiviji je na klimatske elemente u odnosu na poljski jasen. Pojava sušnih i izostanak kišnih razdoblja također značajno utječe na odumiranje. Smanjenje srednjega minimalnog vodostaja vodotoka utječe na odumiranje hrasta lužnjaka, dok smanjenje maksimalnog vodostaja vodotoka utječe na odumiranje poljskog jasena. Na intenzitete odumiranja značajno utječe pad razine podzemne vode u dubljim slojevima pedosfere. Svi strukturni čimbenici utječu na odumiranje hrasta lužnjaka, dok na odumiranje poljskog jasena značajno utječe jedino povećanje obrasti i broja stabala u sastojini.The pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl) tree dieback phenomenon presents an economic as well as ecologic problem. Factors that cause tree dieback can be biotic, biotopic (within habitat) and structural (within stand). In managed forests, the volume of dead trees or volume of trees cut in a sanitation harvests are most often used to show the intensity of tree dieback, and may also be used as an indicator of the stands condition (Capecki, 1981).Every species has its own ecological niche. Forest tree species have varying reactions to changes in environmental factors, to stress and ultimately to dying. The study was conducted in „Zelenika” management unit in Posavina. The aims of the study were to establish pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash tree dieback dynamics, to research the influence of biotopic and structural factors on dieback intensity and to compare dieback intensities according to the stand age class and microrelief. For analysis were climatic data for Novska meteorological station, water level data of Novska watercourse, and groundwater level data from „Zelenika” piezometric station were used. Dry years and dry periods, and wet years and wet periods, were determined using the percentile method and the Walter climate diagrams.Growing volume of withered pedunculate oak and ash trees, as well as structural factors data(stand structure elements) were collected from the O-2 form of the Forest management plan. Dieback intensities were calculated on the basis of growing volume of the withered trees per area unit ratio. The intensity of tree death was shown in absolute numbers, as m3/ha (Siwecki et al. 1998).Considering the average change rate, dieback intensities of pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash tree are increasing. The highest dieback intensities for both forest species were found in the VI age class (Figure 2). On the basis of the conducted research, it can be concluded that climatic, hydrological and structural factors influence pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash tree dieback.Pedunculate oak is more sensitive to climatic elements in comparison to narrow-leaved ash tree. Frequent dry years significantly affected the dying of these two species, which can both be considered hydrophytes in terms of their ecological demand for water. The results of this study showed that narrow-leaved ash was more vulnerable to drought than pedunculate oak.Drought and rain periods also significantly influence tree dieback (table 5). The effect of dry periods on the dieback of these two species was greater in relation to the lack of wet periods in these lowland forests. The decrease of mid and minimal water levels of watercourse influenced pedunculate oak dieback, while a decrease of maximum watercourse water levels influenced narrow-leaved ash tree dieback (table 6). Groundwater level decrease in deeper layers of pedosphere had asignificant influence on tree dieback intensities (table 7). It was revealed that all structural factors influence pedunculate oak dieback, while narrow-leaved ash tree dieback was influenced only by stocking and tree number increase in a stand (table 8).The dieback of pedunculate oak was higher in older stands. No correlation was detected between the dieback of narrow-leafed ash and stand age