Current issue: 58(4)
Water and amount of light are the most important growth factors and the article discusses their relationship. It is knows that the more space is needed by a tree the worse the site is. The number of stems varies between tree species. Common understanding is that amount of light is decisive to self-thinning and regeneration of a stand. On a good site the adequacy of water may substitute the lack of light. However, the fertility of soil and moisture content is more important than light.
The question of the importance of light, soil fertility and water content, as well as their relationship is important when optimizing the forest management.
The PDF contains a summary in Finnish.
The article discusses the growth factors, the influence of the seed tree to the seedlings and the relations of the trees within one age class in sense of growth of the trees and their effect for practical forest management.
The author concludes by noticing that there is a remarkable gap in knowledge about growth factors and more research is needed especially on the interactions of various growth factors. Earlier research on forests has not taken the characteristics of the site and its effect into account adequately. In addition to the observations in the nature, the individual growth factors and their interactions should be studied quantitatively.