Аssessment of the prospects for growing forest crops of European larch in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine
Larix decidua Mill. is of interest in meeting the needs of industry in obtaining fast timber not only in European countries, but it also has significant prospects for cultivation in different natural zones of Ukraine. The main objective of this paper was to study the soil conditions and the state of...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ukrainian National Forestry University
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Наукові праці Лісівничої академії наук України |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://fasu.nltu.edu.ua/index.php/nplanu/article/view/820 |
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| Summary: | Larix decidua Mill. is of interest in meeting the needs of industry in obtaining fast timber not only in European countries, but it also has significant prospects for cultivation in different natural zones of Ukraine. The main objective of this paper was to study the soil conditions and the state of forest crops of European larch and assess the prospects for its use in the plantation system of cultivation (the cultivation stands with a short rotation age (41-60 years)) in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. For this purpose, a comparative ecological approach was used. In particular, the condition and productivity of forest crops of the introduced species - European larch - were compared with crops of Pinus sylvestrys L. as an aboriginal species, which is also one of the main species that forms forests in Ukraine.
The objects of the study were crops of European larch and Scots pine, created in 2002 in the tract "Zadonetsky bir" of the State Enterprise "Zmiivske Forestry" (now – State Specialized Forest Enterprise «Forests of Ukraine», Branch «Zmiivske Forestry») in the forest-steppe part of Kharkiv region. The initial data for the analysis were obtained by field studies in established temporary sample plots. In these sample plots, forest mensuration indicators of larch and pine stands, their health condition, and grass cover were assessed.
The name of the soil was identified by laying soil profiles and describing them according to the morphological characteristics of the genetic horizons. The type of forest site conditions (FSC) in the sample plots was assessed based on the forest vegetation effect of tree stands and the results of soil and grass cover examination.
The results obtained indicate that monocultures of European larch were created on leached light loamy chоrnozem (black soils) on loess loam. The thickness of the humus horizon (H) is 37 cm, and the layer with significant humus content (H + Hp + PH) reaches 70 cm. The soil forms fresh fertile forest site conditions (FSC D2). Monocultures of Scots pine were created on soddy podzolized (pine forest) clayey-sandy soils on ancient alluvial sands with the thickness of the humus horizon 28 cm. These soils form fresh fairly infertile site types (FSC B2), being typical habitats of pine in the region. It was found that the composition of all studied plantations begins to change four to five years after their establishment. In larch plantations, Robinia pseudoacacia L. naturally appears, and in pine cultures – Betula pendula Roth., which subsequently, along with the main species, form the upper storey of plantations. Currently, the proportion of Robinia and Betula in the stand composition is 10% each. It was found that 22-year-old stands of the upper storey, regardless of the type of forest site conditions, are characterized by high growth power: the main species – larch and pine grow according to site class Іb, and 15-year-old associated species according to site class Іa (Betula) and site class Іc (Robinia). Significant natural mortality (drying-out) of larch was recorded, which probably occurred due to the untimely conducting of forestry activities, in particular, tending treatments (cleaning), cutting, as a result of which the stand corresponds to the category of “very weakened” (Іc (index of health condition) – 3.4). The stand of Scots pine does not have signs of deterioration and is defined as “healthy” (Іc – 1.4).
The study of the prospects for using European larch as a plantation-type crop in forestry enterprises in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine should be continued. |
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| ISSN: | 1991-606X 2616-5015 |