The influence of the spatial pattern of trees on forest floor vegetation and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) regeneration in uneven-aged forests

If occurrence of fir regeneration on fertile sites is controlled in larger measure by factors associated with edaphic variability than by light conditions, then cuttings aimed at prompting regeneration may be successful only where a regeneration bank has earlier been established. Otherwise, such removal of trees may cause an increase in percent of coverage by forest floor vegetation and, through unfavourable eutrophisation of initially acidified microhabitats, additionally hinder the establishment of fir seedlings.