<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In Latvia, common ash (<italic>Fraxinus excelsior</italic> L.) can form ecologically stable monoculture stands in localities with optimum growing conditions, but they are mainly found in mixed forests throughout the country on sites with fresh, fertile, sufficiently moist, yet well-drained soils. Over the last two decades, ash decline has become a serious problem for the whole of Europe; the causal agent for it is also present in Latvia. The aim of the given study was to investigate the growth patterns of ash in different populations at the age of maturity (over 80 years), tracing back their course of growth, and identify the spatial distribution of ash to identify localities with appreciable concentration of ash-dominated stands. The study revealed high variation in the juvenile growth of ash, and confirmed that the height and diameter growth for common ash peaks at an early age. Analysis of the spatial distribution of ash indicated considerable expansion of common ash over the country during the second half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, to some extent complementing natural overgrowing of abandoned lands by forest. Apart from the Zemgale Plain in the middle of Latvia, the highest concentration of ash stands is in upland areas with highly varying land relief conditions.</p></abstract>

In Latvia, common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) can form ecologically stable monoculture stands in localities with optimum growing conditions, but they are mainly found in mixed forests throughout the country on sites with fresh, fertile, sufficiently moist, yet well-drained soils. Over the last two decades, ash decline has become a serious problem for the whole of Europe; the causal agent for it is also present in Latvia. The aim of the given study was to investigate the growth patterns of ash in different populations at the age of maturity (over 80 years), tracing back their course of growth, and identify the spatial distribution of ash to identify localities with appreciable concentration of ash-dominated stands. The study revealed high variation in the juvenile growth of ash, and confirmed that the height and diameter growth for common ash peaks at an early age. Analysis of the spatial distribution of ash indicated considerable expansion of common ash over the country during the second half of the 20th century, to some extent complementing natural overgrowing of abandoned lands by forest. Apart from the Zemgale Plain in the middle of Latvia, the highest concentration of ash stands is in upland areas with highly varying land relief conditions.

Growth Patterns and Spatial Distribution of Common Ash (<italic>Fraxinus excelsior</italic> L.) in Latvia

Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, Rīgas iela 111, Salaspils, LV-2169, LATVIA

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Growth Patterns and Spatial Distribution of Common Ash ( L.) in Latvia

In Latvia, common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) can form ecologically stable monoculture stands in localities with optimum growing conditions, but they are...

Growth Patterns and Spatial Distribution of Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in Latvia

Published Online: Aug 02, 2016

Page range: 109 - 115

Received: Feb 17, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/prolas-2016-0018

Keywords
increments, height-age curves, tree species distribution

© 2016 Kaspars Liepiņš et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Growth Patterns and Spatial Distribution of Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in Latvia

Published Online: Aug 02, 2016

Page range: 109 - 115

Received: Feb 17, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/prolas-2016-0018

Keywordsincrements, height-age curves, tree species distribution

© 2016 Kaspars Liepiņš et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
increments, height-age curves, tree species distribution