The more, the better? Water relations of Norway spruce stands after progressive thinning

摘要: Predicted intense and prolonged drought events challenge forest management. Thinning is debated as a silvicultural measure for reducing risk in densely established stands. We report on thinning experiment 26-year-old Norway spruce stand (Picea abies), comprising of two intensities one unthinnned control. The removal 43% (moderate thinning, MT) 67% (heavy HT) the initial basal area led to increased water availability during entire three year observation period. Stand-level transpiration (Es) was decreased by about 25% upon moderate, 50% heavy first after interventions had been carried out. However, differences Es across treatments within years mainly due single-tree additional understory evapotranspiration at HT. Nevertheless, lower interception thinned plots treatment MT HT still showed substantial surplus extractable soil water. results that main determinants concerning extent mitigation effect with increasing intensity were available storage capacity emerging vegetation. conclude repeated moderate through enhancing remaining trees, can mitigate young stands thus, represent viable anticipating possible limitations climate change.