Aboveground Stand Phytomass in Experimental Cultures of Lodgepole Pine in Syktyvkar Forestry of the Komi Republic

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to evaluate and comparatively analyze the above ground phytomass of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in experimental cultures. The results of studies of experimental cultures of lodgepde pine in Syktyvkar forestry of the Komi Republic are presented. The cultures were established by planting 2-year-old seedlings in spring 2006 on a pine clear-cut in 2004 with the area of 1 ha. Pine seedlings of local origin were used for control. The aboveground phytomass of both species was assessed using the model tree method. Moisture content and absolute dry matter content of phytomass components were determined. For the majority of phytomass fractions of lodgepde pine the dry matter content is higher than that of common pine. The weight of model trees of Scots pine in absolutely dry state ranges from 3 to 17 kg, lodgepde pine – from 4 to 27 kg depending on the diameter. Regression analysis of data on model trees was carried out. It is shown that the allometric (steppe) equation can be used to calculate the total aboveground phytomass and the mass of most of its fractions. The exception is the mass of dry branches, for which allometric dependence on trunk diameter was not found. The weight of phytomass in freshly cut condition is 21 t/ha for Scots pine, 32 t/ha for lodgepde pine, and 8.1 and 12.5 t/ha in absolutely dry condition, respectively. The structure of aboveground phytomass of the studied species is quite similar, except for needles, the share of which is higher in lodgepde pine than in Scots pine. The weight of almost all components of lodgepde pine phytomass, except for dry twigs, is 20–50 % higher compared to Scots pine. The total aboveground phytomass of lodgepde pine in cultures at a planting density of 2.5 t/ha is 1.5 times higher than that of Scots pine. The obtained results are necessary for replenishment of the database on productivity and in the future for estimation of carbon deposition by artificial plantations. For citation: Pristova T.A., Fedorkov A.L., Novakovsky A.B. Aboveground Stand Phytomass in Experimental Cultures of Lodgepole Pine in Syktyvkar Forestry of the Komi Republic. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 6, pp. 31–43. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-6-31-43