Peculiarities of the structure of young stands formed on forest plantation plots

Abstract

The study of the structural peculiarities of young stands formed on the forest plantations of pine was carried out 8-10 years after their creation. Accounting and evaluation of the structure of young stands were carried out by a selective statistical method. All the characteristics of the formed phytocenoses were determined on circular discount area of 10 m². For pine forest crops, the number, height, and current growth for 3 years were established. For other species that make up the young plantations, the number and height were determined. In addition, undergrowth and living ground cover were taken into account at each discount area. Species composition, height and abundance were determined for the undergrowth, and species composition, occurrence and projective coverage were determined for the living ground cover. It was found that the survival and preservation of pine crops created by planting material with an open root system were higher compared to crops created from planting material with a closed root system. All the taxation characteristics of young stands in the experimental areas differ. The total number reaches 6 thousand pieces/ha. The differentiation in height is the most clear. The pine forest culture has the maximum height. The average values on the areas vary from 1.77 to 3.54 m. The average height of the birch tree in the forest-cultivated areas is 2.41–3.07 m. In addition to pine and birch, the young stands include spruce, aspen and pine of natural renewal. The total number of these forest-forming species does not exceed 350 pieces/ha. The exception is the undergrowth of pine, the number of which reaches about 1 thousand pieces/ha. Undergrowth is being restored on forest-cultivated areas. Up to 26 species are found in the living ground cover, while 3-4 species predominate: cowberry, heather and lichens. The soils on the areas of forest crops are sandy loam sod-podzolic.