The effects of climatic factors in forming increment of English oak (Quercus robur L.) In south regions of Belarus

Abstract

Our research let identified the main climatic factors which impact on radial increment of oak trees on different forest conditions in South Belarus. We defined three regions (southwest, south and southeast) with different growth conditions and built six standardized master chronologies from 140 to 230 years long. The results of correlation analysis of standardized chronologies showed that response of oak trees to climate on floodplain and drained conditions differ significantly from oak trees growing in dry conditions. A regression model between oak treering width and climatic parameters was developed for different growing conditions. Response function showed that increment of oak trees in floodplain conditions is closely related with temperature at the beginning of the growing season. For trees that are growing in mesotrophic conditions the main importance is the regime of precipitation.