Seedling Growth and Biomass Production under Different Light Availability Levels and Competition Types

Light availability is a crucial resource determining seedling survival, establishment, and growth. Competition for light asymmetric, giving the taller individuals competitive advantage obtaining resources. Species-specific traits, e.g., shade tolerance, rooting depth, leaf morphology, determine their strategical growth response under limited different interactions. We established controlled pot experiment using European beech, Norway spruce, Douglas fir seedlings applying three levels—10%, 20%, 50%. The experiment’s main aim was to better understand effects of competition type on growth, allocation, biomass production recently planted seedlings. four per in either monocultures or mixtures two species. Relative height diameter aboveground woody increased with increasing availability. All allocated more than decreasing Seedlings that reached average greater previous year less following year. Additionally, there were general differences allocation between gymnosperms angiosperms, but we did not find an effect competitor’s identity. Our mixture analysis trends suggested functionally dissimilar species are likely produce higher similar such as studied conifers. This finding points towards productivity through complementarity.