A review of site factors affecting the early growth of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)

This paper reviews site factors that influence early growth of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). Sites where ash will grow well can now be described in terms of the ecological site classification of Pyatt et al. (2001) [An ecological site classification for forestry in Great Britain. Forestry Commission Bulletin 124. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh]. Good sites are where the climate is ʹwarmʹ (>1376 day-degrees>5.6 °C), soil moisture is ʹfreshʹ to ʹvery moistʹ (generally meaning that depth to the winter water table is between 40 and 100 cm) and soil nutrient status is ʹrichʹ and ʹvery richʹ (generally soil pH in the range of 5.0–7.5). These preferences are explored with reference to more detailed information concerning the influence of water, nutrients, light and patterns of shoot and root growth.