Abstract
Relationships between the volume growth of mixed stands and their species composition were analyzed in order to examine the so-called “mixture effect” on stand productivity. The influence of co-species was studied using multiple linear regression analysis. Stand level basal area and height growth models were constructed in order to find out which stand characteristics can be used to describe mixture-effects. The study material originates from the Estonian network of permanent forest growth plots, only stands consisting of mainly (≥ 50% of volume) Scots Pine with Norway spruce and/or Birch spp. as co-species were used. Sample size was 139 5-year measurement periods on 88 plots; stand ages range from 14 to 167 years. The study results indicate that an increasing proportion of birch in the stand causes a negative effect on both basal area and height growth. Spruce seems to be a weaker competitor than other pines as its trend in the model is positive. Also, height growth is more rapid when the mean diameter of spruce is smaller than that of pine. Species composition coefficients for co-species (calculated by standing volume) proved to be the most significant variables that describe stand composition in the models