Silvicultural Analyses for Tree of Heaven in Eastern Austria

The mission of this project is to assess the growth of Tree of Heaven plantations in Eastern Austria. We have selected a Hungarian variant and will select 5 regions which differ in the underlying soil type and the climatic conditions. On each of these 5 locations we will establish an experimental design covering three different treatments (no, light and heavy thinning) with 2 to 3 replications on each site. Soil samples are analyzed and each year the individual trees are recorded and analyzed. We are specifically interested in the (i) growth, (ii) quality, (iii) vitality, (iv) frost resistence, (v) fructification and the (vi) regeneration behavior as well as the (vii) wood technological conditions of the species. This first Tree of Heaven plantation trial in Austria is planned to run for 12 years.