Análisis dendroclimatológico (Castanea sativa Mill) en el macizo del Montseny

Abstract

The importance of the variable «hours of sunlight» (as an estimator of irradiance) in the growth processes of the Chestnut (Castanea sativa) has been pointed out. Mild temperatures and high precipitation in the months preceding the vegetative period have a negative effect on the ring width increment. This seems to agree with the hypothesis that considers the tree's dormancy period as a security factor against climatic events. The August precipitation has a positive effect on the ring width increment. This comes about because there is no pause in either metabolic activity or growth rate due to water stress.