Beech regeneration, vegetation cover, and development of beech fine roots have been studied in a beech forest on rendzina located 650 m a. s. in the Swiss Jura (Basel-Land) on a clearcut stand of 19 a. Selected observations like beech root vitality and contents of soil water and soil elements in stand compared to the cleartcut area are presented in this paper. After one year of tree removal, soil water contents on the clearcut area were significantly higher as compared to the stand.
However, during the following summer water content in stand increased because of high precipitation, whereas, decreased on clearcut area because of development of vigorous herb layer. Nevertheless, the water contents on the clearcut area were still significantly higher. Contents of exchangable soil elements like Mg and Ca were significantly higher on clearcut area when compared to the stand. The fine root density (< 1 mm 0) varied between 485 and 1146 mg per 100 ml soil. These values are high compared to more favourable soils. Vitality of beech fine roots was determined by TIC-test and was compared in stand and on the clearcut area. Fine root vitality from the cut trees decreased to the level of necromass one year after tree cutting. A slight regeneration of beech fine roots on the clearcut area was observed during the following vegetation period, nevertheless, the root vitality on clearcut area were still significantly lower.