PRODUCTION ACTIVITY OF MOUNTAIN CULTIVATED NORWAY SPRUCE STANDS UNDERTHE IMPACT OF AIR-POLLUTION .3. FOLIAGE DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE UPPERAND MIDDLE CANOPY TREES

The vertical distributions of foliage dry weight, leaf area, leaf area index, and needle area density have been investigated in two differen t tree height classes in a 35-year-old mountain Norway spruce stand in the Beskydy Mountains. A sample of 12 trees was analysed using destru ctive method. Six individuals belonged to the upper canopy trees (UCT) , the rest to middle canopy trees (MCT). Obtained data showed that dis tribution of total dry needle weight reached higher maximum values in UCT than in MCT. Peak values of total dry needle weight distribution w ere found in the lower middle of relative crown height (38-48 per cent ). Interwhorl branches beared about 20 per cent of the total dry needl e weight both in UCT and MCT. A similar proportion was obtained betwee n leaf surface area distributions of UCT and MCT. Only the peak values were found lower in the canopy (30-40 per cent of relative crown heig ht). Leaf area index curves were found to be similarly shaped. The cum ulative leaf area index ranged 15-40 m2.m-2 in UCT and 10-22 m2.m-2 in MCT. The values of needle area distribution (NAD) reached 3.5 m2.m-3 in UCT as well as in MCT.NAD culminated in 80 and 75 per cent of relat ive crown height in UCT and MCT, respectively.