Ocena buka zwyczajnego w uprawach z wyższych położeń Beskidu Śląskiego i Żywieckiego

In autumn 2006, i.e. in the 5th year from the culture establishment, and when the tree growth had finished, on each culture we measured tree height, height increments in the years 2004−2006 and root collar diameters. We also noted the presence of the main shoot and top bud on the main shoot, size and color of the assimilative apparatus and determined the survival rate of the seedlings. The assessed and measured features allowed for determination of the seedling quality and vitality. Mean values of all features were calculated for plots and their groups, distinguished on the basis of their belonging to particular forest districts and regions as well as basing on the presence or absence of stand protection and in regard to stand disintegration. The results indicate the poor condition of parts of the cultures with beech. Generally, the quality and vitality of the seedlings was assessed to be average, with a smaller or larger tendency towards the decrease. This points towards difficulties in performing stand regeneration and in varying their composition in the higher locations of the Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki Mts., which experience extreme climatic conditions. This was observed particularly on height and quality parameters worsened along with an increase in a degree of stand disintegration. Many beech seedlings grew better on the fenced plots than on the unfenced ones, which indicates positive results of the protection of cultures against game and justifies their fencing.