Effect of soil liming on European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) plantations

Abstract

upport of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) plantations by amelioration has been tested in air-polluted sites in the mountains since 1993. The research locality is a site with humic podzol soils at an altitude of 960 m a.s.l. Dolomitic limestone (1 kg per tree) was mixed with soil used for planting tree seedlings. According to the results of a 15-year investigation (1993– 2008), liming had a positive effect on beech tree growth, while the positive effect of liming on tree growth was temporary in the case of sycamores. Ca content was higher in the limed beech plantations throughout the observation period. Soil analyses (sampled in 2002) showed that the application of dolomitic limestone influenced soil conditions markedly in terms of increased pH. The pH values measured in H2O increased from 4.9 to 6.2 for beeches and from 4.3 to 6.1 for sycamores.