Distribution, growth and productivity of Larix decidua Mill. plantations in the western Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of the distribution of European larch in artificial forest stands in Ukraine. It was found that the potential area for the successful cultivation of this species can be not only the Western but also the Right-Bank and Left-Bank Forest-Steppe. The study has confirmed that European larch plantations, with the appropriate technology for planting and cultivation, are marked by rapid growth, high productivity and resistance. Under the forest site conditions of types C2, D2, and D3, in which the largest number of larch stands were built, a tendency was revealed towards an increased volume of stemwood with an increasing share of larch in the stand composition. Constructed regression models formalize this dependence. With advancing age, the influence of larch on an increase in the growing stock of plantations is reduced. Productivity and growth character of larch plantations in different types of forest growth conditions are different. European larch can form steady-state and highly productive plantations not only in fresh, but also in moist types of forest growth conditions. Under conditions of a fresh fertile site type (D2), as evidenced by the results of ANOVA, the share of larch in the composition of the stand has a significant impact on the main mensuration indices of the stand. The highest values for the average height are characteristic of larch with its significant share in the composition of plantations (6-10 units), and the highest values for the average stem diameter were observed with an average share of the species (3, 5-8 units). It is noted that the technology for the establishment and management of artificial larch plantations should be differentiated depending on the type of forest growth conditions by using optimal mixing and spacing schemes and appropriate silviculture regimes that regulate the share of larch in these stands. Keywords: European larch, forest plantation, forest stand, type of site conditions, stand composition