ИСТИНА

The aim of the study is to analyse individual tree growth of Scots pine (Pinus Sylvestris) in two different cites of the forest – on the forest-edge and the forest-interior. The distance between sites is not more than 200 m. For each tree two radii were taken, the basal area increment and the tree height were measured. We built ring-width, early- and latewood chronologies for two cites. The length of the forest-edge chronology (RAPSE) goes up to 268 years and the length of the forest-interior chronology (RAPSI) is up to 252 years. To analyse the individual tree growth, we calculated basal area increment and ran principle component gradient analysis using R programming. There is a huge difference between tree growths on the forest-edge and the forest-interior. Analysis showed a few periods with changes of intensity and amplitude of tree growths for two sites: in first 100 years of wood production the tree growth on the forest-edge was much weaker than on the forest-interior and then the pattern changed to the opposite. This switches happened for three times and it could be explained by ecological (competition of species), physico-geographical reasons (different microclimatic and soil conditions, evapotranspiration etc.) or human impacts. Principal component gradient analysis of tree rings width, early- and latewood revealed distinct separation between two cites. That could be explained by the higher drought susceptibility of the edge compared to the interior.