Production capacity of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) in a mixed stand

In the conditions of central Europe, Douglas fir is an introduced tree spec ies with an extremely high production potential. The fact was confirmed by investigations made in an experimental mixed stand which has been left to n atural development with no intentional fellings since 1961. The stand is si tuated 10 km north of Brno at an altitude of 330 m and its age in the last year of measurements (1999) was 68 years. In a colourful mixture of 7 speci es (pinc, larch, Douglas fir, oak, beech, hornbeam, linden) Douglas fir sin gled out during the natural development ns the most productive species with the volume of one tree and the volume increment reaching up to 2.9 m(3) an d 0.15 m(3) yr(-1) at the age of 68 years. With a certain circumspection, D ouglas fir can be recommended as an alternative tree species (at the expens e of spruce) in the target composition of forest stands in areas of wooded hills in the Czech Republic.