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Effects of Climate Change on the Vulnerability of Norway Spruce Stands – Soil Hydrological Constraints for Forest Management in Austria’s Lowlands

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Forest Management and the Water Cycle

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 212))

Abstract

The management of manmade spruce forests under the aspect of climate change is an important issue in Central Europe. The results of climate scenarios indicate that the growth conditions in low elevations will deteriorate significantly. For Austria’s lowlands the vulnerability is analyzed and regional maps of different risk classes for spruce dominated forests are presented. Local site conditions, however, play a crucial role. In two case studies, where Norway spruce is growing on heavy soils, the influence of soil properties and tree mixture on the water demand of Norway spruce, especially during drought stress periods, is illustrated. On heavy, clayey soils restricted root formation and consequently the inability to exhaust water reserves in deeper parts of the soil is an important factor for drought stress. In mixed spruce/beech stands there is some evidence that the belowground competition leads to a very shallow rooting of spruce with negative consequences in drought stress periods. Thinning strategies and the reduction of the rotation period are tools to improve the growth conditions for spruce. On very unfavourable sites a stand conversion seems to be unavoidable. After large scale disturbances, like wind throw, natural regeneration of pioneer tree species can help to overcome the critical early regeneration phase.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Ecology and Soil, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Seckendorff - Gudentweg 8, A-1131, Vienna, Austria

    Karl Gartner, Michael Englisch & Ernst Leitgeb

Authors
  1. Karl Gartner
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  2. Michael Englisch
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  3. Ernst Leitgeb
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karl Gartner .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Forschungszentrum Waldökosysteme, Universität Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, Göttingen, 37077, Germany

    Michael Bredemeier

  2. , ARO Volcani Center, Institute of Soil, Water and Environment, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    Shabtai Cohen

  3. College of Natural Sciences, School of the Environment & Natural Reso, University of Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, Gwynedd, United Kingdom

    Douglas L. Godbold

  4. , Institute of Ecology, Tallinn University, Uus-Sadama 5, Tallinn, 10120, Estonia

    Elve Lode

  5. Faculty of Forestry, Department of Natural Environment, Technical University Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, Zvolen, 96053, Slovakia

    Viliam Pichler

  6. Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, Zürcherstr. 111, Birmensdorf, 8903, Switzerland

    Patrick Schleppi

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Gartner, K., Englisch, M., Leitgeb, E. (2010). Effects of Climate Change on the Vulnerability of Norway Spruce Stands – Soil Hydrological Constraints for Forest Management in Austria’s Lowlands. In: Bredemeier, M., Cohen, S., Godbold, D., Lode, E., Pichler, V., Schleppi, P. (eds) Forest Management and the Water Cycle. Ecological Studies, vol 212. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9834-4_7

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