Soil conditions of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) stands in the alluvium of the Svratka and Jihlava rivers

Abstract

Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) is an introduced North-American tree species that has been cultivated in Europe for more than 300 years. The relatively extensive original range of black walnut covers Eastern and Central parts of North America. Forest management of black walnut can be traced first in Ruhrland, Germany and in the area around Strasbourg, France. Within the territory of the Slovak Republic, black walnut stands were cultivated in warmer areas of Southern and Western Slovakia, predominantly in lowlands and along the Vah, Hron and Nitra rivers. The largest areas of man-made black walnut plantations are encountered in the lower reaches of the Hron river, about 43 ha in the vicinity of Želiezovce (MAJOVSKÝ, KREJCA 1965). In the Czech Republic, black walnut is cultivated only in Southern Moravia, in Židlochovice management-plan area, Stražnice management-plan area and in Znojmo forest district. In these areas black walnut replaced the original Ulmeto-Fraxineta communities. The tradition of black walnut cultivation in South Moravian forests boasts 200-years-old history. The stands are either cultivated as monocultures or as mixed stands with the understorey of small-leaved linden (Tilia cordata L.). According to the Forest Management Plan data the total area of black walnut stands in Židlochovice Forest Enterprise takes up 258 ha of timber land (reduced area). Almost three fifths (154 ha) of the total area of black walnut stands are en