This paper gives a detailed account of the ecological characteristics of the most wide-spread beech ecosystems of slovakia according to the forest vegetation degrees. Special attention is paid to climatic and soil characteristics. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is Slovakia's most shade- demanding broadleaved tree species. Therefore, it mostly grows on cold exposures in soil with a higher moisture content. However, in colder areas the south-east slopes are optimal for its growth and development. The juvenile stages, in comparison with spruce and fir, are more sensitive to shading. The most favorable canopy of the regenerated stands for the start of natural regeneration is 0.5, while for norway spruce it represents 0.6 - 0.7 and for silver fir 0.7. According to the knowledge of Slovak typologists (J. Grek, L. Hancinsky, D. Randuska and others) it reaches its production maximum in the 4th forest vegetation degree. Beech requires rich mineral soils with a lower calcium content. The optimal soil acidity (pH in KCI) including phosphorous nutrition is at pH 5 - 6 (Baule 1976). Especially vigorous growth of Beech was found in Slovakia on limestones substrates with adequate high precipitations. Optimum precipitation is 1000mm per year. Thus humid climates with frequent summer precipitation are most conducive for European Beech. The soils must be humose, light with a permanent slight moisture content. Heavy clay soils, water- logged soils or poor sandy soils are not conducive for growth. On poorer sites it creates a rich root system with numerous ectomycorhizes on fine roots. It is also significant soil-preserving species. In its life optimum it is not pretentious to soil but on the limits of its occurrence it has special demands to soil quality. Beech, similar to Oak, is often characterized as the melioration tree species. Its melioration significance consists in the fact that through its defoliation it supplies soil with nitrogen and bases, especially calcium. According to Ebermayer's data, from among all species growing on the calcareous sands, it has the gighest accumulation of calcium in leaves. Based on defoliation, beech supplies soil with 34 - 88kg of nitrogen, 3 - 9kg of phosphor 14 - 40kg of kalium, 14 - 45kg of calcium and 3 - 10kg of mangan per 1 ha. According to Hesselman, its defoliation has a medium content of acids and a high content of bases. The C/N ratio is 51, thus higher than in spruce (48) and fir (37). The optimal value of pH = 4.3, (spruce 4.1). It is thus obvious that based on the properties of its defoliation beech resembles conifers. It is necessary to mention that the C/N ratio iy , however, a considerably variable characteristic. Hoehne (1963) gives for beech the highest values of all principal forest tree species i.e. 57 (oak = 39, spruce = 40, pine = 48, larch = 55). Spruce litter has a higher mineral content than..
