The soil water retention potentials and other hydrolimits of individual soil horizons of podzolized soil were determined in the stand of Picea abies (Mecuvka, the Beskids, Czech Republic) on godulic sandstone. Different hydropedologic characteristics for the individual soil horizons were found. Extreme values were detected for the albic E horizon, which importance for water and nutrient status of forest stand on podzolic soil is discussed.

The objectives of this study were (I) to establish allometric relationships between the stem volume and biomass of the stem, branches, leaves and the leaf area, and crown dimensions of individual trees, (II) to determine the relative aboveground biomass distribution, (III) to determine the vertical gradient of the specific leaf area and (IV) to estimate the aboveground stand biomass and the leaf area. Diameter at 0.3m height above ground and height of each tree were measured as the basic biometrical characteristics. The coefficient of the shape of the trunk was found by Huber's method.

Radiation regime is the important part of the energy flow through the stand structure. The goal of the radiation regime studies in the forest stand is to create and develop the technology for radiation measurements and to estimate the impacts of stand density on the radiation regime. The experiment is carried out the Experimental research site Bily Kriz in the Moravian - Silesian Beskydy Mts. with a Norway spruce monocultural stand. Intensities of photosynthetic active radiation, global radiation and intensities of incident and transmitted photosynthetic active radiations through the stand were measured.

The cloned saplings of Norway spruce (7 years old) were exposed to ambient UV-B irradiation or enhanced BV-B irradiation (+25 %) continuously over three growing seasons. Comprehensive analysis of CO2 assimilation and chlorophyll a fluorescence was performed at the end of the third growing season to evaluate the influence of enhanced UV-B irradiation. The analysis resulted in observations of decreased photosynthetic activity, mainly of RUBISCO activity, as a result of long-term influence of enhanced UV-B irradiation. Morever, the deep impact of enhanced UV-B irradiance on the level of electron transport and thus enhanced sensitivity to photo-inhibition was demonstrated.

Data necessary for the determination of the proportion of various types of branching in stands under study, their variability within a tree, accuracy of classification of the type of branching, damage to particular types of branching due to breakage and initial age for their reliable recognition were obtained according to method from 1,336 trees situated in 11 trial plots in the region of the Beskids. Statistically significant differences were determined in the diameter and height increments for particular types of branching.

According to the geostatistical methods annual sums of precipitation, mean annual concentrations of SO2, total potential deposition of sulphur as inputs to the mountain forest ecosystem of Moravian-Silesian Beskids on the spatial level in 1996 were derived. For this purpose, all possible meteorological and monitoring stations in the surroundings of the cesearch teiritory were used.

The aim of this study was to obtain data for elaboration of methods that would be suitable for detection of assimilative apparatus damage, if the damage is still in its latent phase. The needles are covered with epicuticular waxes, which have a protective function, but are also damaged by air pollution first.