Long-term effects of biological sprout control of unwanted hardwoods on conifer sites

Long-term investigations revealing the effects of a decay fungus, Chondrostereum purpureum (Pers. Ex Fr.) Pouzar on competition between deciduous and conifer tree species in young forests are missing. Therefore, three different sprout control treatments were tested Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands by evaluating sprouting ability stumps, level around cultivated conifers five years after treatments. Sprouting was performed (i) cutting only (control), ii) applying low-concentration (dilution 1:400) or iii) high-concentration 1:100) C. preparates (mycelial solutions) stumps immediately cutting. Deciduous saplings cut, fungal inoculum applied spreading it onto freshly cut stump surfaces. Following treatment, number trees treatment 25% lower compared to control; moreover, sprouts per also significantly negatively affected treatment. As result, cases when competing occurred within 1 m sample plot investigated 40% following than control, resulting better height diameter development conifers. Thus, additional is not necessarily needed