As in the old days the young spruce undergrowth was called. Trees in the life of the ancient Slavs

spruce forest vegetation

Features of the light regime under the canopy of spruce forests

Accounting for undergrowth and living ground cover

Age structure as an indicator of the state of undergrowth

Dependence of the dynamics of the state of spruce undergrowth on the age of felling

The young generation of the forest

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Municipal educational institution

October secondary school

Manturovsky municipal district

Kostroma region

Spruce forest and its undergrowth

Fulfilled:

Borodinsky Ilya Pavlovich

8th grade student

Oktyabrskaya secondary school

Supervisor:

Smirnova Tatyana Valerievna

1. Introduction. 3

2. Research methodology. 4 3. Research results.

3.1. Features of the spruce forest. 5

3.2. Species composition of the spruce forest. 7

3.3. Spruce forest undergrowth. eight

3.4. Influence of adult trees on the growth of spruce seedlings and spruce undergrowth. eight

3.5. Influence of mature trees on the formation of undergrowth. 9

4. Conclusions. eleven

5. Conclusion and perspectives 12 6. References. 13 7. Applications. 14

1. Introduction

Most of our area is occupied by spruce forests. The spruce forest is a very special, original plant community. This forest is gloomy, shady, wet. If on a hot summer day you enter a spruce forest from a field or meadow, you will immediately find yourself in deep shade, you will feel coolness and humidity. The whole situation here differs sharply from what is characteristic of an open place. Spruce greatly changes the environment, creates specific conditions under its canopy.

The composition of plants in the lower tiers of the forest is largely determined by the properties of the soil. In those parts of the spruce forest where the soil is poorer in nutrients and damper, on the moss carpet we usually find dense thickets of blueberries. This type of forest, found near the village of Oktyabrsky, is called blueberry spruce forest.

Objective:

to study the spruce forest and undergrowth of the spruce forest.

Tasks:

Learn the features of the spruce forest;

To study the species composition of the spruce forest;

To study the undergrowth of a spruce forest;

Conduct research and identify the influence of mature trees on the growth of spruce seedlings and spruce undergrowth;

To reveal the influence of mature trees on the formation of undergrowth.

2. Research methodology

We carried out research work in the summer of 2011.

For our study, we used the following equipment: pegs, measuring fork, tape measure.

When performing this work, we used the methods of observation, comparison. Using the observation method, the species composition of the spruce forest, the external features of the undergrowth and shoots of the spruce forest were studied. The tables were compiled based on the comparison method. This method made it possible to consider and compare the number of shoots and undergrowth of spruce, and also helped to determine the final results in this work.

As a result of the analysis of literary sources on biology and ecology, we got acquainted in detail with the vegetation of the spruce forest, soils, growing conditions,,,

3.Research results

3.1. Spruce forest features

The spruce forest is a very special, original plant community (Appendix I photo1). Spruce creates very strong shading, and only fairly shade-tolerant plants can exist under its canopy. There are usually few shrubs in a spruce forest. The plants that we see under the canopy of a spruce forest are quite shade-tolerant, they not only grow normally in deep shade, but even bloom and bear fruit. All these plants also tolerate the relative poverty of the soil in nutrients and its increased acidity (such properties are typical for the soil of a spruce forest). At the same time, many spruce forest plants are demanding on soil moisture.

Under the canopy of a spruce forest there is almost never any strong movement of air. And in the spruce forest you will hardly find plants whose seeds would have any "parachutes" or other devices for dispersal with the help of the wind. On the other hand, there are many plants whose seeds are extremely small, look like dust and are spread even by very weak air currents.

Among the plants found in spruce forests, there are many that have white flowers.

This flower color is not accidental. This is an adaptation to poor lighting under the canopy of a spruce forest. White flowers are better than any other, visible in the twilight, they are most easily found by pollinating insects.

Almost all herbaceous plants of the spruce forest are perennial. Each spring, they continue their life, but do not start it all over again, with a seed, like annual grasses. They occupy their specific place in the forest for many years. Most spruce forest plants have more or less long creeping rhizomes or above-ground shoots that can quickly grow to the sides and capture a new area. All these are adaptations to a specific situation under the canopy of a spruce forest. The emergence of new plants from seeds here is fraught with great difficulties: the germination of falling seeds is hindered by a thick layer of dead needles on the soil and a moss cover. Propagation by seed under these conditions is very unreliable. The inhabitants of the spruce forest maintain their existence mainly through vegetative reproduction. Seedlings of any plants can appear from seeds only under special conditions - where the layer is removed

fallen needles along with the moss cover and the soil was exposed. It is these conditions that are necessary for the mass emergence of seedlings, even of the spruce itself.

The litter in a spruce forest is highly acidic (pH) and is decomposed almost exclusively by microscopic fungi. The fungal population is very abundant not only in the litter, but also in the upper layers of the soil. It is not surprising, therefore, that many plants of the spruce forest have mycorrhiza, their roots are braided with a thick sheath of the finest mushroom threads - hyphae. Mycorrhiza plays an important role in the life of forest plants, helping them absorb hard-to-reach nutrients from the soil. Some grasses of the spruce forest are so closely associated in their lives with the mycorrhizal fungus that even their seeds cannot germinate without the participation of the fungus.

Another characteristic feature of spruce forest plants is that many of them remain green for the winter, keep their leaves alive in the cold season. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, you can always see their old, overwintered green leaves on the soil. A little warmer - and the process of photosynthesis immediately begins in the leaves, organic substances are produced. Relatively few grasses of the spruce forest completely lose their above-ground part in autumn and winter only in the form of underground organs.

Shrubs play an important role in the living ground cover of the spruce forest. All these plants do not differ from shrubs in their structural features, but are only much smaller in size.

The mosses that we see on the soil in a spruce forest are very shade-tolerant plants. They can exist in fairly low light. They also tolerate the mechanical impact of dry needles falling from trees. There is no moss cover only in very dense young spruce forests, where almost no light falls on the soil. The appearance of the spruce forest changes little throughout the year. Spruce stays green all the time, many forest grasses do the same. The moss cover also preserves the unchanged green color. Only in spring and early summer we see some diversity, when some herbs begin to bloom, located along the canopy of a spruce forest.

3. 2. Species composition of the spruce forest

In the spruce forest, the main species is common spruce or European spruce (Appendix I photo 2). The root system is taproot for the first 10-15 years, then superficial (the main root dies off). The tree is weakly wind resistant. The crown is conical or pyramidal. Branches whorled, horizontally spread or drooping. In the first 3-4 years does not give lateral shoots. The bark is gray, exfoliates in thin plates. The leaves are needle-shaped (needles), green, short, tetrahedral, rarely flat, hard and sharp, with 2 keels on the upper and lower side. Arranged spirally singly, sitting on leaf pads. They remain on the shoots for several (6 or more) years. Annually falls to one seventh of the needles. After a strong eating of the needles by some insects, for example, a nun butterfly, brush shoots appear - with very short and hard needles, resembling brushes in appearance.

Plants are gymnosperms. Cones are oblong-cylindrical, pointed, not crumbling, fall off when the seeds ripen whole in the first year of fertilization. Mature cones are hanging, dry, leathery or woody, up to 15 cm long, 3-4 cm in diameter. Cones consist of an axis on which numerous covering scales are located, and in their axils - seed scales, on the upper surface of which 2 ovules usually develop equipped with the so-called false wing.

Seeds ripen in October and are dispersed by the wind. Do not lose their germination for 8-10 years.

The beginning of fruiting - from 10 to 60 years (depending on growing conditions).

Lives on average up to 250-300 years (sometimes up to 600)

Pure spruce forests are very dense, dense, dark. Common birch is found next to spruce trees, but very rarely. There is almost no undergrowth in spruce forests, only common juniper and mountain ash are found singly. The herbaceous-shrub layer is well developed. Blueberries form a continuous, well-developed layer. It is sometimes mixed in a significant amount with common lingonberries, two-leaved majnik, common sorrel, horsetail, and male shieldwort. The moss cover of blueberry spruce forests is sparse and consists of spots of sphagnum and cuckoo flax. After felling in the places of former blueberry spruce forests, reed, pike or fireweed fellings appear, then birch forests, aspen forests and blueberry-broad herb pine forests.

Having studied the species composition of the spruce forest, the data was entered into the description form (Appendix II)
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3.3. Spruce forest undergrowth

Undergrowth is a young generation, consisting of woody plants of natural origin, growing under the forest canopy, capable of forming the main canopy of a forest stand, which has not reached the height of the main forest stand.

The undergrowth under the dense canopy of an adult forest has a difficult existence. Seedlings that find themselves on the edge, in a clearing, in areas where enough light penetrates into the gaps of the crowns formed after the old tree has fallen out, grow well. In such plants, the branches start from the ground itself, they are densely covered with bright green foliage or needles, their top is well developed.

Under the canopy of a spruce forest there are many young fir trees that have not fallen into such favorable conditions, and they are forced to be content with what they got. And they got very little. Usually, undergrowth grows in groups, concentrated in conditions favorable for seed germination and the initial period of seedling growth. But as they grow, rivalry begins within the undergrowth group, in addition, the trees are shaded by the upper canopy of an adult forest, and they have to be content with the remnants of the light that has penetrated through the crowns of the older generation trees. Undergrowth roots develop in the soil already occupied by the root system of the old forest and have to be limited to less food and moisture. It is often possible to observe in a dense spruce forest in such undergrowth one-meter Christmas trees, whose age is 30-50 years.

In the oppressed undergrowth, the apical shoot is almost imperceptible, the branches are located only in the upper part of the stem and are located horizontally, so more light falls on them.

In a natural forest, over the years, old trees become decrepit, gradually fall out at different times and gaps increase between the trees. More light, more moisture in the forest - less rivalry between the younger generation and the root system of the mother forest. The undergrowth recovers, adapts to new conditions and accelerates growth, wedging its top into the upper canopy. Even after 80-100 years of oppression, spruce can recover and become part of the upper canopy.

Undergrowth is of seed and vegetative origin. Undergrowth of seed origin at an early stage is called self-sowing (for coniferous and hardwoods with heavy seeds) or bloom (for birch, aspen, and other hardwoods with light seeds). Plants up to 1 year are shoots. One of the important means of forest restoration is the preservation of undergrowth from damage during logging. 3.4. Influence of adult trees on the growth of spruce seedlings and spruce undergrowth

We chose a site of a mature spruce forest (away from roads) with well-defined dead spots under the crowns of mature trees and with a moss carpet between them. We found a spruce, under the crown of which there are a large number of young shoots (Appendix III photo 1), and laid here 5 sites measuring 100 cm 2 (10 * 10 cm 2). Another series of platforms was placed between the crowns of trees on a thick moss carpet. We counted the number of spruce seedlings on each site, and then calculated the average data for one site. The results were entered into the table (Appendix III table 1)

In the same areas (i.e. under the crowns of spruces and between them), lay out larger areas - 1 m 2 and count the amount of undergrowth present on them (Appendix IV photo1), without seedlings. The data was entered into the table (Appendix IV table 1)

Compare the results and make conclusion:

spruce seedlings appear in greater numbers per unit area directly under the crowns of mature trees, since a thick layer of moss prevents their emergence between the crowns; The seedlings die before their roots reach the soil. On the contrary, the largest number of spruces grown up is located between the crowns of trees. Such a discrepancy in the places of abundant occurrence of fir trees of different ages is due to the influence of mature trees. Under crowns, due to strong competition (primarily for light), all seedlings quickly die. In the inter-crown areas of the forest, the influence of adult trees is weakened, and here the majority, even from the total small number, of the spruce trees that have appeared are preserved.

3.5. Influence of mature trees on the formation of undergrowth.

In the course of the research, the state of spruce undergrowth in the forest and on the edge of the forest was described in order to identify the influence of adult plants on the formation of undergrowth. The undergrowth is medium in height, medium density, uneven, viable.

We chose young Christmas trees of approximately the same height - 1-1.5 m, growing in the shade of the forest, on its edge or in a clearing; studied their external structure and entered the data in the table (Appendix V table 1).

Made conclusion:

on the edges and clearings, the condition of the undergrowth spruce forest is good. Here, the crowns of Christmas trees are cone-shaped, with densely spaced, well-needled branches. Under the forest canopy, the crowns of fir trees are umbrella-shaped, with sparse and weakly foliated branches, which are strongly elongated to the sides. Moreover, in the lighted places of the forest, undergrowth grows densely, and in the shading, Christmas trees are found singly, rarely. These differences in state and abundance
10

undergrowth in different parts of the forest indicate the adverse impact of adult trees, which is carried out through changes in habitat conditions: shading, etc.

It can be seen from a comparison of the results that the influence of mature spruce trees also affects the undergrowth growing between their crowns, but here it is weaker compared to the undercrown plots; this influence is even less pronounced on the undergrowth grown on the edge of the forest.

conclusions

As a result of the work done, we learned a lot more about the spruce forest, its species composition, and also studied the influence of mature trees on the growth of spruce seedlings and undergrowth, as well as on the formation of undergrowth.

After the research, we came to the conclusion

Large species diversity in spruce forests is not observed, and only shade-tolerant plants grow.
Spruce seedlings appear in greater numbers per unit area directly under the crowns of mature trees, since a thick layer of moss prevents their emergence between the crowns; The seedlings die before their roots reach the soil. On the contrary, the largest number of spruces grown up is located between the crowns of trees. Such a discrepancy in the places of abundant occurrence of fir trees of different ages is due to the influence of mature trees. Under crowns, due to strong competition (primarily for light), all seedlings quickly die. In the intercrown areas of the forest, the influence of mature trees is weakened, and here the majority, even from the total small number, of the spruce trees that have appeared are preserved.
On the edges and clearings, the condition of the undergrowth spruce forest is good. Here, the crowns of Christmas trees are cone-shaped, with densely spaced, well-needled branches. Under the forest canopy, the crowns of fir trees are umbrella-shaped, with sparse and weakly foliated branches, which are strongly elongated to the sides. Moreover, in the lighted places of the forest, undergrowth grows densely, and in the shading, Christmas trees are found singly, rarely. These differences in the state and abundance of undergrowth in different parts of the forest indicate the adverse impact of adult trees, which is carried out through changes in habitat conditions: shading, etc.

Conclusion

On the territory of our area there are coniferous forests and the predominant species in these forests is the common spruce. Every year the number of forest plantations is reduced, as a result of logging and unauthorized logging.

Undergrowth is a young generation capable of forming the main forest stand. It is the main replacement for a dead or cut down forest, so we must explore and protect it.

In the future, I want to continue working on the study of spruce forest stands, as well as other tree crops.

List of used literature

1. Biological encyclopedic dictionary. Ch. ed. M. S. Gilyarov and others - Edition 2nd corrected. - M.: Sov. Encyclopedia, 1989

2. Lerner G.I. Dictionary-reference book for students, entrants and teachers. - M .: "5 for knowledge", 2006.

3. Litvinova L.S. Moral and environmental education of schoolchildren. - M .: "5 for knowledge", 2005.

4. Rozanov L.L. Dictionary-reference book. - M.: NTSENAS, 2002.

Appendix Ι

Photo 1. Spruce forest

Photo 2. Norway spruce

Annex ΙI

Description July 15, 2010

Name of associations: spruce - blueberry

The general nature of the relief: flat

Soil (name): sod-podzolic loamy

Humidity conditions: not uniform

Dead litter (composition, thickness, degree of coverage, nature of distribution): last year's needles, continuous coverage, evenly distributed, 2 cm

Species composition of tree species

Species composition of undergrowth

Species composition of the shrub layer

The species composition of the herbaceous-shrub layer

№ p/p	View	Latin name
1.	blueberry	Vaccinium myrtillus
2.	May lily of the valley	convallaria majalis
3.	Two-leaf mine	Mojanthenum bifolium
4.	Common lingonberry	Vaccinium vitisidaea
5.	Oxalis ordinary	Oxalis acetosella
6.	male shield	Dryopteris filixmas

Appendix II

Photo 1. Spruce seedlings

Table 1. Number of spruce seedlings

Appendix ΙV

Photo 1. Spruce undergrowth

Table 1. Number of spruce undergrowth

Appendix V

Table 1. State of spruce undergrowth under different conditions

480 rub. | 150 UAH | $7.5 ", MOUSEOFF, FGCOLOR, "#FFFFCC",BGCOLOR, "#393939");" onMouseOut="return nd();"> Thesis - 480 rubles, shipping 10 minutes 24 hours a day, seven days a week and holidays

Gutal Marko Milivoevich. The viability and structure of spruce undergrowth under the canopy of forest stands and in clearings: dissertation ... Candidate of Agricultural Sciences: 06.03.02 / Gutal Marko Milivoevich; [Place of protection: St. Petersburg State Forestry Engineering University named after S.M. Kirov http://spbftu.ru/science/sovet/D21222002/dis02/].- St. Petersburg, 2015.- 180 p.

Introduction

1 Problem status 9

1.1 General information about spruce phytocenoses 9

1.2 Spruce undergrowth 11

1.2.1 Features of the age structure of spruce undergrowth 12

1.2.2 Features of the light regime under the canopy of spruce forests 16

1.2.3 Spruce undergrowth viability 22

1.2.4 Number of spruce undergrowth 25

1.2.5 Influence of forest type on spruce undergrowth 27

1.2.6 Features of the development of spruce undergrowth under the forest canopy 30

1.2.7 Influence of lower layer vegetation on spruce undergrowth 33

1.2.8 The impact of economic activities on undergrowth spruce 35

2 Research program and methodology 39

2.1 Research program 39

2.2 Study of forest phytocenosis by structural elements 40

2.2.1 Determining the main characteristics of the stand 40

2.2.2 Accounting for undergrowth 41

2.2.3 Accounting for undergrowth and living ground cover 46

2.2.4 Determination of needle biometrics 49

2.3 Research objects 51

2.4 Scope of work performed 51

3 Dynamics of the state of spruce undergrowth under the canopy of a forest stand .

3.1 Dynamics of the vital state of spruce undergrowth based on the results of long-term studies 53

3.2 Patterns of changes in the viability of spruce undergrowth in connection with the type of forest 69

3.3 Influence of the maternal canopy on the dynamics of the state and structure of spruce undergrowth

3.4 Correlation between viability of spruce undergrowth and average growth over the period of 3, 5 and 10 years.

3.5 Age structure as an indicator of the state of undergrowth 86

3.6 Undergrowth height structure as a status indicator 89

3.7 Comparative analysis of the state and structure of spruce undergrowth in the spruce forests of the Lisinsky and Kartashevsky forestries 93

4 Influence of economic measures on the number and viability of spruce undergrowth

4.1 Influence of thinnings on the viability dynamics of spruce undergrowth 105

4.2 Undergrowth thinning - as a measure to promote the natural regeneration of spruce 122

5 Dynamics of the state of spruce undergrowth on clearing 127

5.1 Features of the structure and condition of spruce undergrowth 127

5.2 Dependence of the dynamics of the state of spruce undergrowth on the age of felling 134

6 Biometric characteristics of needles as an indicator of viability of spruce undergrowth

6.1 Biometric indicators of needles under the canopy and in clearing 140

6.2 Biometric indicators of needles of viable and non-viable undergrowth of spruce.

Bibliography

Spruce is one of the main forest-forming species on the territory of the Russian Federation, occupying the fourth place in terms of occupied area, second only to larch, pine and birch. Spruce grows from the tundra to the forest-steppe, but it is in the taiga zone that its forest-forming and edificatory role is most pronounced. The spruce genus (Picea Dietr.) belongs to the pine family (Pinacea Lindl.). Individual representatives of the spruce genus date back to the Cretaceous period, that is, 100-120 million years ago, when they had one common area on the Eurasian continent (Pravdin, 1975).

European spruce or common spruce - (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is widespread in the north-east of Europe, where it forms continuous forests. In Western Europe, coniferous forests are not a zonal type of vegetation, and vertical differentiation takes place there. The northern border of the range in Russia coincides with the border of forests, and the southern border reaches the black earth zone.

Norway spruce is a tree of the first magnitude with a straight trunk, a cone-shaped crown and not strictly whorled branching. The maximum height reaches 35-40 meters in flat conditions, and in the mountains there are specimens up to 50 m high. The oldest known tree was 468 years old. However, the age of more than 300 years is very rare, and in the zone of coniferous-deciduous forests it decreases to 120-150 (180) years (Kazimirov, 1983).

Norway spruce is characterized by a relatively high plasticity of the root system, capable of adapting to various soil conditions. The root system is most often superficial, but relatively deep vertical branches often develop on well-drained soils (Shubin, 1973). The trunk of the common spruce is full-woody, covered with relatively thin green-brown, brown or gray bark. The bark of the common spruce is smooth, but becomes scaly and furrowed with age.

Growth buds are small - from 4 to 6 millimeters, ovate-conical, red with dry scales. Reproductive buds are larger and reach 7-10 millimeters.

Spruce needles are tetrahedral, sharp, dark green, hard, shiny, up to 10-30 mm long and 1-2 mm thick. Keeps on shoots for 5-10 years and falls off throughout the year, but most intensively from October to May.

Norway spruce blooms in May - June. Cones ripen in autumn the next year after flowering, seeds fall out in late winter and early spring of the following year. Male spikelets of an elongated cylindrical shape are located on the shoots of the previous year. Cones are spindle-shaped cylindrical in shape, 6 to 16 long and 2.5 to 4 centimeters in diameter, located at the ends of the branches. Young cones are light green, dark purple or pinkish, while mature ones take on a different shade of light brown or reddish brown. Mature cones contain from 100 to 200 seed scales on the stem. Seed flakes - lignified, obovate, entire, finely serrated along the upper edge, notched. Each seed scale contains 2 recesses for seeds (Kazimirov, 1983). Seeds of common spruce brown, relatively small, 3 to 5 millimeters long. The mass of 1000 seeds is from 3 to 9 grams. Seed germination varies from 30 to 85 percent depending on growing conditions. Growing conditions also determine the presence of a repetition of harvest years, which occur on average every 4-8 years.

Norway spruce is a species that grows in a relatively large area, in various soil and climatic conditions. As a result, the common spruce is distinguished by a large intraspecific polymorphism (by type of branching, cone color, crown structure, phenology, etc.), and, consequently, by the presence of a large number of ecotypes. In relation to air temperature, common spruce is heat-loving, but at the same time, a cold-resistant breed that grows in a temperate and cool climate zone with an average annual temperature of -2.9 to +7.4 degrees and the temperature of the warmest month of the year from +10 to +20 degrees (Chertovskoy, 1978). The area of Norway spruce spreads in the range from 370 to 1600 mm of precipitation per year.

The issue of soil moisture is closely related to its aeration. Norway spruce, although it is able to grow in conditions of excessive moisture, but good productivity should be expected only in those cases where the water is flowing. On wet soils, spruce falls out already at a speed of 6-7 meters per second, and on fresh and dry soils, wind flows at a speed of 15 meters per second can withstand. Wind speeds of more than 20 meters per second cause a massive collapse.

The most intensive growth of common spruce differs on sandy and loamy soils, underlain at a depth of 1-1.5 meters by clays or loams. It should be noted that there are no strict rules for exactingness to the soil, its composition and mechanical composition as such, since the exactingness of spruce to the soil has a zonal character. Norway spruce has a high threshold of tolerance to soil acidity and is able to grow at pH fluctuations from 3.5 to 7.0. Norway spruce is relatively demanding on mineral nutrition (Kazimirov, 1983).

The heterogeneity of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the undergrowth is expressed, first of all, through the concept of the viability of the undergrowth. The viability of undergrowth, according to the Encyclopedia of Forestry (2006), is the ability of the young generation of maternal undergrowth to exist and function in changing environmental conditions.

Many researchers, such as I.I. Gusev (1998), M.V. Nikonov (2001), V.V. Goroshkov (2003), V.A. Alekseev (2004), V.A. Alexeyev (1997) and others noted that the study of the qualitative parameters of spruce forests, by and large, comes down to studying the state of forest stands.

The state of the stand is a consequence of the complex processes and stages through which the plant passes from its rudiment and seed formation to the transition to the dominant layer. This long process of plant metamorphosis requires a division into various stages, each of which must be studied in a separate order.

Thus, it can be stated that relatively little attention is paid to the concept of viability and state of undergrowth (Pisarenko, 1977; Alekseev, 1978; Kalinin, 1985; Pugachevsky, 1992; Gryazkin, 2000, 2001; Grigoriev, 2008).

Most researchers argue that under the canopy of mature forest stands there is a sufficient amount of viable spruce undergrowth, however, in this case, the interdependence of the state of the undergrowth and its spatial distribution from the characteristics of the parent stand is most often not revealed.

There are also researchers who do not claim that under the canopy of the mother stand there should be a viable undergrowth capable of fully replacing the mother stand in the future (Pisarenko, 1977; Alekseev, 1978; Pugachevsky, 1992).

Height fluctuations and group distribution of spruce undergrowth have led some authors to argue that spruce undergrowth as a whole is not capable of providing preliminary regeneration under the condition of intensive logging operations (Moilanen, 2000).

Another study by Vargas de Bedemar (1846) found that the number of trunks sharply decreases with age, and that only about 5 percent of germinated seedlings remain in the process of natural selection and differentiation by the age of ripeness.

The process of differentiation is most pronounced in the "youth" of the plantation, where the oppressed classes stand out to the greatest extent in terms of condition, and gradually captures the "old age". According to G.F. Morozov, who refers to the earlier works of Ya.S. Medvedev (1910) in this direction, a common feature of undergrowth growing in a plantation is depression. Evidence of this is the fact that at the age of 60-80 years, the undergrowth of spruce under the canopy very often does not exceed 1-1.5 m, while the undergrowth of spruce in the wild at the same age reaches a height of 10-15 meters.

However, G.F. Morozov (1904) notes that the performance and productivity of individual specimens of undergrowth can change for the better, as long as the environmental conditions change. All specimens of undergrowth, of varying degrees of oppression, differ from undergrowth in the wild in terms of the morphological characteristics of the vegetative organs, incl. fewer buds, a different crown shape, a poorly developed root system, and so on. Such morphological changes in spruce, as the formation of an umbrella-shaped crown, developing in a horizontal direction, is an adaptation of the plant to the most efficient use of the "meager" light penetrating to the undergrowth. Studying the transverse sections of spruce undergrowth stems growing in the conditions of the Leningrad district (Okhtinskaya dacha), G.F. Morozov noted that in some specimens, the annual rings were densely closed at the initial stage of life (which indicates the degree of plant oppression), and then sharply expanded as a result of some forest management measures (in particular, thinning) that changed environmental conditions.

Spruce undergrowth, abruptly finding itself in open space, also dies from excessive physiological evaporation due to the fact that in open areas this process proceeds with greater activity, to which undergrowth growing under the canopy is not adapted. Most often, this undergrowth dies as a result of a sharp change in the situation, but, as G. F. Morozov noted, in some cases, after a long struggle, it begins to recover and survives. The ability of undergrowth to survive in such circumstances is determined by a number of factors, such as the degree of its oppression, the degree of sharpness of changes in environmental conditions, and, of course, biotic and abiotic factors that affect the growth and development of the plant.

Individual specimens of the undergrowth often vary greatly within the same massif in such a way that one specimen of the undergrowth, marked as unviable before felling, recovered, and the other remained in the category of unviable. The undergrowth of spruce, formed on fertile soils under the canopy of birch or pine, often does not respond to the removal of the upper layer, because. did not experience light deficit even in its presence (Cajander, 1934, Vaartaja, 1952). After a buffer period of adaptation, the growth of undergrowth in height increases many times, but small undergrowth requires more time for the functional restructuring of vegetative organs (Koistinen and Valkonen, 1993).

P. Mikola (1966) indirectly confirmed the fact of the pronounced ability of spruce undergrowth to change the category of state for the better, noting that a significant part of the rejected spruce forests (based on the state of undergrowth), in the process of forest inventory in Finland, was later recognized as suitable for forest growing.

Depending on the planting structure, from 3 to 17 percent of photosynthetic active radiation can penetrate under the canopies of spruce stands. It should also be noted that as edaphic conditions worsen, the degree of absorption of this radiation also decreases (Alekseev, 1975).

The average illumination in the lower tiers of spruce forests in bilberry forest types most often does not exceed 10%, and this, in turn, provides, on average, the minimum energy of annual growth, which ranges from 4 to 8 cm (Chertovskoy, 1978).

Research in the Leningrad region, conducted under the direction of A.V. Gryazkina (2001) show that the relative illumination on the soil surface under the canopy of forest stands is 0.3-2.1% of the total, and this is not enough for the successful growth and development of the young generation of spruce. These experimental studies have shown that the annual growth of the young generation of spruce increases from 5 to 25 cm with an increase in the light penetrating under the canopy from 10 to 40%.

Viable spruce undergrowth in the vast majority of cases grows only in the canopy windows of a spruce stand, since spruce undergrowth does not experience a lack of light in the windows, and besides, the intensity of root competition there is much lower than in the near-stem part of the stand (Melekhov, 1972).

V.N. Sukachev (1953) argued that the death of undergrowth is largely determined by the root competition of mother trees, and only then by the lack of light. He supported this statement with the fact that at the earliest stages of the life of the undergrowth (the first 2 years) "there is a strong decay of spruce, regardless of the illumination." Such authors as E.V. Maksimov (1971), V.G. Chertovsky (1978), A.V. Gryazkin (2001), K.S. Bobkova (2009) and others question such assumptions.

According to E.V. Maksimova (1971), the undergrowth becomes unviable when the illumination is from 4 to 8% of the total. Viable undergrowth is formed in the gaps between the crowns of mature trees, where the illumination is on average 8-20%, and is characterized by light needles and a well-developed root system. In other words, the viable undergrowth is confined to gaps in the canopy, and the strongly oppressed undergrowth is located in the zone of dense density of the upper layers (Bobkova, 2009).

V.G. Chertovskoy (1978) also argues that light has a decisive influence on the viability of spruce. According to his arguments, viable spruce undergrowth in medium-density stands usually makes up more than 50-60% of the total. In heavily closed spruce forests, unviable undergrowth predominates.

Studies in the Leningrad region have shown that the illumination regime, i.e. canopy closure determines the proportion of viable undergrowth. With a canopy closeness of 0.5-0.6, undergrowth with a height of more than 1 m predominates. At the same time, the share of viable undergrowth exceeds 80%. With a density of 0.9 or more (relative illumination less than 10%), viable undergrowth is most often absent (Gryazkin, 2001).

However, one should not underestimate other environmental factors, such as soil structure, moisture content, and temperature conditions (Rysin, 1970; Pugachevsky, 1983; Haners, 2002).

Although spruce belongs to shade-tolerant species, spruce undergrowth in high-density stands still experiences great difficulties in low light conditions. As a result, the quality characteristics of undergrowth in dense stands are noticeably worse compared to undergrowth growing in medium and low density stands (Vyalykh, 1988).

As spruce undergrowth grows and develops, the tolerance threshold for low light decreases. Already at the age of nine years, the need for illumination of spruce undergrowth sharply increases (Afanasiev, 1962).

The size, age and condition of undergrowth depend on the density of forest stands. The majority of mature and overmature coniferous stands are characterized by uneven ages (Pugachevsky, 1992). The largest number of undergrowth individuals occurs at a fullness of 0.6-0.7 (Atrokhin, 1985, Kasimov, 1967). These data are also confirmed by the studies of A.V. Gryazkina (2001), who showed that “the optimal conditions for the formation of a viable undergrowth of 3-5 thousand ind./ha are formed under the canopy of forest stands with a density of 0.6-0.7”.

NOT. Dekatov (1931) argued that the main prerequisite for the emergence of viable spruce undergrowth in an oxalis type of forest is that the fullness of the parent canopy is in the range of 0.3-0.6.

Viability, therefore, and growth in height are largely determined by the planting density, as evidenced by the studies of A.V. Gryazkina (2001). According to these studies, the growth of non-viable undergrowth in oxalis spruce forests with a relative stand density of 0.6 is the same as the growth of viable undergrowth with a density of 0.7-0.8 spruce forests.

In spruce forests of the bilberry type of forest, with an increase in the density of the forest stand, the average height of undergrowth decreases and this dependence is close to a linear relationship (Gryazkin, 2001).

Research N.I. Kazimirova (1983) showed that spruce undergrowth is rare and qualitatively unsatisfactory in lichen spruce forests with a density of 0.3-0.5. The situation is completely different with sorrel forests, and especially with lingonberry and blueberry forest types, where, despite the high density, there is a sufficient amount of undergrowth that is satisfactory in terms of vitality.

With an increase in the relative density of the forest stand, the proportion of medium and large viable spruce undergrowth also increases, since competition for light in such a close canopy is most of all reflected in small undergrowth. With a high density of the forest stand, the proportion of unviable small undergrowth of spruce is also very large. However, this proportion is much higher with a low relative fullness, since under such light conditions competition increases, from which small undergrowth suffers first of all.

With an increase in the relative density of the forest stand, the proportion of small non-viable undergrowth changes as follows: at low density, the proportion of small non-viable undergrowth is the largest, then it falls and reaches a minimum at a density of 0.7, and then increases again with an increase in density (Figure 3.40).

The distribution of spruce undergrowth according to the categories of condition and size confirms that the life potential of undergrowth grown in the conditions of Lisinsky forestry is greater than that of spruce undergrowth in Kartashevsky forestry. This is especially clearly seen in the height structure of the undergrowth, since the proportion of medium and large spruce undergrowth, as a rule, is greater in Lisisin sites under similar forest conditions (Figures 3.39-3.40).

The best life potential of spruce undergrowth at the Lisino sites is also evidenced by the growth rate of undergrowth, which is shown in Figures 3.41-42. For each age group, regardless of the state of life, the average height of spruce undergrowth on Lisinsky sites is greater than the average height of undergrowth grown in the conditions of the Kartashevsky forestry. This once again confirms the thesis that under relatively less favorable environmental conditions (from the point of view of soil moisture and its fertility, closer to the blueberry type of forest), spruce undergrowth is able to show its competitive abilities more. It follows from this that the changes that occur in the canopy as a result of anthropogenic or other impacts give a more positive result in the context of improving the state of spruce undergrowth under the conditions of Lisinsky rather than Kartashevsky forestry.

1. At each stage of development, the number of undergrowth, as well as the structure in height, in age in the experimental plots change in different directions. However, a certain regularity was revealed: the more the number of undergrowth changes (after fruitful seed years, it increases sharply), the more the structure of undergrowth changes in height and age. If, with an increase in the number of undergrowth due to self-seeding, a significant decrease in the average height and average age occurs, then with a decrease in the number as a result of mortality, the average height and average age can increase - if mainly small undergrowth passes into the waste, or decrease - if mainly large undergrowth passes into the waste. undergrowth

2. For 30 years, the number of undergrowth under the canopy of sorrel spruce forest and blueberry spruce forest has changed, in this component of the phytocenosis the change of generations is continuous - the main part of the older generation passes into the waste, and the undergrowth of new generations regularly appears and, first of all, after a plentiful seed harvest.

3. Over three decades, the composition of the undergrowth at the observation sites has changed significantly, the proportion of hardwoods has increased markedly and reached 31-43% (after cutting). At the beginning of the experiment, it did not exceed 10%.

4. In section A of the ecological station, the number of spruce undergrowth increased by 2353 specimens over 30 years, and taking into account the surviving model specimens, the total number of spruce undergrowth by 2013 amounted to 2921 ind./ha. In 1983 there were 3049 ind./ha.

5. Over three decades, under the canopy of blueberry spruce forest and oxalis spruce forest, the proportion of undergrowth that passed from the “non-viable” category to the “viable” category was 9% in section A, 11% in section B and 8% in section C, i.e. about 10% on average. Based on the total number of undergrowth in the experimental plot of 3-4 thousand/ha, this proportion is significant and deserves attention when conducting accounting work when assessing the success of natural spruce regeneration in these types of forests. 103 6. From the category “viable” to the category “non-viable” over the specified period of time, from 19 to 24% moved from the category “viable” to the category “dry” (bypassing the category “non-viable”) - from 7 to 11%. 7. Of the total number of growing undergrowth on section A (1613 specimens), 1150 specimens of undergrowth of different heights and different ages passed into the waste, i.e. about 72%. On section B - 60%, and on section C - 61%. 8. In the course of observations, the proportion of dry undergrowth increased with the height and age of the model specimens. If in 1983-1989. it was 6.3-8.0% of the total, then by 2013, dry undergrowth included from 15% (blueberry spruce forest) to 18-19% (sorrel spruce forest). 9. Of the total number of certified undergrowth in section A, 127 specimens became trees of countable sizes, i.e. 7.3%. Of these, most (4.1%) are those specimens that have moved in different years from the category of "non-viable" to the category of "viable". 10. The repeated counting of the same specimens of spruce undergrowth over a long period of time makes it possible to indicate the main reasons for the transition from the “non-viable” category to the “viable” category. 11. Changes in the structure of undergrowth in terms of height and age, fluctuations in numbers - a dynamic process in which two mutually opposite processes are simultaneously combined: the disappearance and the arrival of new generations of undergrowth. 12. Transitions of undergrowth from one category of condition to another, as a rule, occur more often among small undergrowth. The younger the age of undergrowth, the more likely a positive transition. If during the first 6 years of observations, about 3% of specimens passed from the category “NZh” to the category “Zh”. (with an average age of undergrowth of 19 years), then after 20 years - less than 1%, and after 30 years - only 0.2%. 13. The dynamics of the state of undergrowth is also expressed by forest types. Transitions of unviable undergrowth into the category of “viable” are more likely in blueberry spruce forest than in oxalis spruce forest.

Even in the second half of the XIX century. Russian foresters drew attention to the need to preserve undamaged trustworthy undergrowth, as it relatively quickly adapts to new environmental conditions and forms a highly productive plantation in the future.

Various experiments on the conservation of undergrowth have shown that spruce and fir undergrowth over 0.5 m high, preserved in the clearing, surpasses in growth the undergrowth of deciduous species that appears next to it.

The presence among many thousands of specimens of deciduous undergrowth of only a few hundred specimens of coniferous plants up to 1.5 m high ensures the predominance of conifers. In suborya and ramen high-productive forest types, 40-60 years after the felling of the parent stand, large trees grow from which sawlogs can be obtained. With subsequent renewal, such assortments are obtained in stands only after 80 years or more. After 50 years, for example, after deforestation in the Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, under favorable environmental conditions, a forest massif was formed from the preserved spruce and fir undergrowth with reserves of 200-400 m 3, and in some areas up to 500 m 3 / ha.

It has been established that the natural regeneration of the main forest-forming species - pines and spruces in the taiga zone of the European part of the USSR, subject to certain technological methods of logging, is provided for approximately 60-70% of the felling areas, in the zone of mixed forests by 25-30% and in the forest-steppe zone, where In addition to the influence of climatic factors, an intensive anthropogenic impact is added, on 10-15% of the areas of clearings.

This takes into account both the preliminary and subsequent renewal of valuable coniferous and deciduous species. In the taiga zone, for example, the most favorable conditions for the preliminary renewal of the main rock are created in lichen, heather, lingonberry and bilberry forests, as well as in lingonberry and bilberry spruce forests. In the pine forests of green moss and oxalis, spruce undergrowth predominates in the composition of preliminary renewal. Trustworthy spruce undergrowth is abundant under the canopy of deciduous (birch and aspen) and deciduous-conifer plantations.

The safety of the undergrowth left in the cutting area largely depends on its age and condition. The undergrowth formed under the canopy of high-density plantations has the greatest mortality. When removing the upper canopy under these conditions, the loss of spruce undergrowth up to 0.5 m high is 30-40%, with a height of 0.5 m and above - 20-30%. The undergrowth of a group location and freed from the canopy in the autumn-winter period has the greatest safety.

In the zone of mixed forests, successful natural regeneration of pine is observed only in lichen forest types. In heather forests and lingonberries, renewal takes place with a partial change of species. With natural regeneration in blueberry pine forests, moss and sphagnum, the participation of conifers is 15-30%. In forests of the green moss type and sorrel forests, pine is completely replaced by deciduous species. Renewal of spruce forests in this zone is even less satisfactory.

Every year, during clear-cutting in the forests of the USSR, viable undergrowth is preserved on an area of 800,000 hectares, i.e., on 1/3 of the area cut down. The largest areas of reforestation due to preserved undergrowth are in the northern and Siberian regions, where coniferous forests predominate and industrial reforestation is still poorly developed.

Mandatory for all loggers are the Rules for the Preservation of Undergrowth and Young Growth of Economically Valuable Tree Species in the Development of Cutting Areas in the Forests of the USSR. Technological processes for the development of logging sites are subordinated to the preservation of undergrowth. For example, a method of felling trees onto a lining tree is used.

At the same time, the cutting area is divided into apiaries 30-40 m wide, depending on the average height of the forest stand. In the middle of the apiary, a portage 5-6 m wide is cut through. The forest felling on the portage begins from the far end, the trees are cut flush with the ground. After the preparation of skid trails, the forest is cut down in strips from the far ends of apiaries.

Before proceeding with the development of the side strip, the feller selects a large tree and cuts it at an angle of 45 ° to the border of the apiary. Trees closer to the portage are felled at a lower angle.

Trees, starting from the portage, are felled onto the lining tree with their top to the portage (fan) so that the crowns of other trees fit one on top of the other. The butts of the cut trees should lie on the underlayment tree. The number of trees felled on one lining "slime" tree is the trip load on the tractor.

After felling the trees, the tractor driver drives up to the portage, turns around, chokes all the trees, including the lining, and takes them to the upper warehouse. At the same time, the butts of fallen trees slide along the lining tree, bending down somewhat, but without damaging the undergrowth of valuable species. During this time, the feller prepares the next cart. After sending two or three wagons, the feller goes to another apiary, from where he also sends two or three wagons. After 25-30 m 3 of wood is skidded to the upper warehouse, large-package loading onto mobile transport is carried out using a skidder.

Labor productivity in logging using this method is increased due to the lightweight chokering of the whips. Branches cut off during felling remain in one place near the portage, where they are burned or left to rot. Labor productivity increases by 10-15%, and most importantly, up to 60-80% of coniferous undergrowth 0.5-1 m high is preserved.

When using feller bunchers LP-2 and chokerless skidders TB-1, the technology changes somewhat, and the amount of remaining undergrowth sharply decreases. The amount of preserved undergrowth also depends on the cutting season. In winter, more small undergrowth remains than in summer.

Preservation of undergrowth during the development of cutting areas with narrow strips was started by the Tatar experimental station. A cutting area 250 m wide is divided into narrow strips 25-30 m wide, depending on the average height of the stand. The width of the portage is 4-5 m. The skid trails are cut along the borders of narrow belts. Trees in ribbons are felled without a lining tree, with their top on the portage, at an acute, possibly the smallest, angle to the portage. At the same time, the feller retreats into the depth of the belt, distributing the trees into the right and left skid trails.

Skidding is carried out by a skidder with crowns forward without turning the trunk in the direction in which the trees are felled. The cutting area development technology changes somewhat when using the TB-1 skidder without choker.

Quite viable undergrowth remains on the tapes, with the exception of those specimens that are damaged when trees fall. Small, medium and large undergrowth is preserved.

Portages 4-5 m wide are left uncultivated. They are self-seeding. Broken branches and tops torn off during chokering remain on the portages. During the operation of the tractor, they are crushed, mixed with the soil, where they rot. The undergrowth is preserved thanks to a well-organized logging site. The skidder passes only along the portage, the felled tree is not turned around during skidding, but is pulled out at the angle to the portage at which it was felled.

When developing logging sites in the Skorodumsky timber industry enterprise, the entire area is divided into apiaries 30–40 m wide. The cutting of apiaries begins with cutting down trees in the central middle lane 12 m wide. The whips are skimming over the top. On the side strips, trees are felled at an angle of no more than 40 °. With this technology, the preservation of undergrowth is ensured due to the proper organization of the cutting area.

The preservation of undergrowth is of great importance with the rotational method of logging, when workshop sites work on shifts remote from the central settlements - temporary settlements with a period of basing in one place up to 4 years. These are the cases when difficulties arise due to the lack of roads, severe swampy terrain, the island location of cutting areas, or when it is imperative to use the natural forces of the forest for self-renewal.

Preservation of undergrowth during the development of cutting areas in the mountains. In spruce, spruce-fir and fir-beech mountain forests growing on slopes, gradual two- and three-stage mechanized felling, as well as selective cutting, are used. In the Urals, in forests of group I, on slopes up to 15° in the southern regions and up to 20° in the northern regions, in drying and soft-leaved plantations without undergrowth, clear-cutting is allowed with direct adjoining cutting areas.

In beech forests, good results were obtained with gradual felling, when skidding is carried out by aerial installations. In order to reduce damage to undergrowth and young growth, felling in mountain forests is carried out along the slope in the direction from top to bottom.

When air skidding forests with assortments, up to 70% of undergrowth is preserved in summer logging and more than 80% in winter.

Great attention should be paid to the method of preserving undergrowth in mountainous conditions during the development of logging sites based on an aerostatic skidding unit (ATUP), developed and applied for the first time in the USSR by V. M. Pikalkin in the Khadyzhensky timber industry enterprise of the Krasnodar Territory.

The technology of work is as follows. An ATUP is installed over a section of a mountain forest that is inaccessible to ground skidding equipment. A feller with a gasoline-powered saw is located at the logging site, and a winch minder is at the control panel. The tree assigned to the felling is chokered at the base of the crown with a special choker, fixed at the end of the skidding rope descending from the cable-block system of the balloon. A chokered tree is cut down by a feller.

By radio signal, the feller turns on the lifting mechanism of the cable-block system and the sawn tree is lifted into the air above the tops of the forest. Then, with the help of a special winch, the tree is transferred from the stump to the line of the main logging road, where it is laid on a truck that delivers the cut trees to the lower warehouse.

The balloon skidding installation consists of balloons, a winch and a cable-block system. Trees are lifted from the stump by a balloon, and moved using an installed winch.

Advantages of developing logging sites in mountainous conditions on the basis of the ATUP installation: undergrowth, undergrowth and the second layer of valuable species are completely preserved; damage to trees remaining on the vine is excluded; the fertile soil layer is completely preserved; labor force and equipment are saved, costs per 1 m 3 of harvested wood are significantly reduced; Ripe and overmature wood is used for the national economy, located in inaccessible and inaccessible mountainous areas, where it is impossible to use conventional ground skidding equipment, and the construction of air skidding installations is expensive. The balloon-skidding plant allows you to perform any type of cuttings for the main and intermediate use with a good silvicultural effect.

Let us imagine a forest capable of bearing fruit. The crowns of the trees are closed in a dense canopy. Silence and darkness. Somewhere high above the seeds ripen. And then they ripened and fell to the ground. Some of them, once in favorable conditions, sprouted. So appeared in the forest forest undergrowth- young generation of trees.

What conditions do they fall into? Conditions are not very favorable. There is little light, there is also not enough space for the roots, everything is already occupied by the roots of large trees. And you have to survive, win.

growing conditions

Number of spruce seedlings

Under the trees

Between crowns
(on the moss layer)

The young generation of the forest replacing the old one is important for renewal. Naturally, existing in harsh conditions, with a lack of light and a constant lack of nutrients in the soil, undergrowth does not look good. A common feature of undergrowth - severe depression. Here is an example of such oppression. Spruce undergrowth only one and a half meters high can have a rather respectable age - 60 and even 80 years. Over the same years, fellow undergrowth grown from the same seeds somewhere in a nursery or near a forest can reach a height of 15 meters. It is very difficult for a teenager to exist. But he nevertheless adapts to the conditions of life under his mother's canopy and patiently waits for changes in his living conditions.

Here, how lucky: either the mature trees die or the undergrowth dies. It also happens that people intervene in this struggle, choosing ripe trees for their needs. Then the undergrowth recovers and subsequently becomes a new forest.

Especially tenacious spruce undergrowth. In a depressed state, he sometimes lives almost half of his life, up to 180 years. It is impossible not to admire his vitality and boundless adaptability, which, however, is understandable.

You have to be very careful with juveniles.. Not knowing his specifics of growth, driven by the most noble motives - to give him freedom, nevertheless we can destroy him. Living in dim light and suddenly receiving the long-awaited freedom from inexperienced hands, he suddenly dies. As they say, the undergrowth is “scared” by the light. The needles quickly turn yellow and crumble, because they are adapted to a different mode of operation, to other living conditions. On the other hand, an undergrowth unexpectedly set free can die of thirst. Not because there is not enough moisture in the soil. Maybe even more of it there, but with its poorly developed roots and needles, undergrowth cannot quench thirst,

What's the matter here? But the fact is that earlier under the maternal canopy in a humid atmosphere, the undergrowth had enough moisture. Now the wind began to walk around, the physiological evaporation of the undergrowth increased, and the miserable crown and root system were unable to supply the tree with a sufficient amount of moisture.

Of course, earlier parent trees oppressed and suppressed undergrowth, but at the same time they protected from the wind, from frost, to which young spruce, fir, oak, and beech are so sensitive; protected from excessive solar radiation, created a soft humid atmosphere.

Geographic cultures - experimental crops of tree species created by planting seedlings (saplings) or by sowing seeds of different geographical origin (provenance) in homogeneous environmental conditions or of the same origin in different geographical areas. Geographic cultures are created to study the geographical variability of woody plant species that have an extensive natural range. Under the influence of environmental conditions (climate, soil, duration of the growing season, day and night, and other factors), hereditary intraspecific categories were formed in tree species with a vast area of growth in the process of evolution. – geographic races or climatic ecotypes (climatotypes). A number of features and properties of climatypes are preserved when bred in other forest conditions. At the same time, the new geographical environment of the growing area affects the growth and development of plants, changing the start time of the growing season and its duration, growth energy, fruiting intensity, etc. [Forest Encyclopedia: In 2 vols./Ch. ed. Vorobyov G.I.; Editorial staff: Anuchin N.A., Atrokhin V.G., Vinogradov V.N. and others - M.: Sov. encyclopedia, 1985.-563 p., ill.].

The interaction of hereditary properties of climatypes and environmental conditions determines the stability and productivity of forest plantations. Differences in productivity reach II-III class of bonitet. The properties of climatypes are preserved in the 2nd and even 3rd generations. Plantations grown from local seeds are generally more resilient and productive. However, sometimes foreign climatypes have an advantage over local ones in a number of economically valuable traits. The growth and condition of crops depend not only on the geographical origin of seeds, but also on ecological, phenological and individual variability within one climatic region, which is also taken into account when studying climatypes.

The geographical variability of tree species was first studied in the first half of the 20th century. In 1823-1832. in France, A. de Vilmorin laid the first experience of a comparative test of cultures. In Russia, the first experiments of such cultures were laid by M. K. Tursky (1877-1878). In 1910-1916. on the initiative of V. D. Ogievsky, a network of geographical crops of pine, oak and larch was created. In 1973-1976. a unique network of geographical crops of pine, spruce, larch and oak has been created under the state program and a unified methodology under the guidance of regional research institutes. In 1982, based on the generalization of the results of studies of geographic variability and previously planted experimental crops, the "Forest-seed zoning of the main forest-forming species in the USSR" was developed and put into operation. Zoning has been developed for Scots pine, Siberian pine and Korean; spruce, Siberian, Schrenk and Tien Shan; larches of Sukachev, Siberian, Chekanovsky, Gmelin, Cajander, Okhotsk, Amur, Kuril, seaside, Olginsky, Komarov, Lyubarsky, European, Japanese, Polish; fir Siberian, white and Caucasian; English oak; European, Eastern and Crimean beeches, as well as preliminary recommendations for the zoning of black saxaul. In connection with the achievement of the 30-year age of the created network of geographical crops, research is being carried out to clarify the current forest seed zoning [Forest seed zoning of the main forest-forming species in the USSR. - M., 1982; Shutyaev, A. M. Biodiversity of pedunculate oak and its use in breeding and afforestation. - Voronezh, 2000; A.I., Iroshnikov. Russian larches. Biodiversity and selection. - M., 2004.].

Recently, in the practice of forestry, such an industry as plantation afforestation has been developing. Plantations are created on large areas and require increased financial costs, so the requirements for sowing and planting material are increasing. Planting and seed material must be proven, highly productive, resistant to pathogens and provide the necessary products. One of the main ways to establish the genetic value of breeding material is to test seed progeny in geographical and test cultures. The study of the growth and stability of Scots pine in geographical crops makes it possible to identify promising climatypes, recommend them in population varieties, develop proposals for the use of the best climatypes in plantation forestry and adjust the seed zoning of the species in the region [Study of existing and creation of new geographical crops // Program and Methods works. M.: VNIILM, 1972.- 52 s].

Forest seed zoning is one of the main reserves for increasing the productivity and sustainability of artificial plantations. The task of forest seed zoning is the rational use of the geographical variability of tree species for the cultivation of highly productive and sustainable forest plantations. The right choice of geographical origin for growing in specific forest conditions allows you to increase crop productivity by 20-30%.

In Russia, the forest-seed zoning of the main forest-forming species was developed on the instructions of the USSR State Committee for Forestry and put into effect by order from July 1, 1982 (Forest seed zoning ..., 1982). The introduction of forest seed zoning was an important component of the overall program for the genetic improvement of the country's forests. The project of consolidated forest-seed zoning of pine in the European part of the USSR was prepared by E.P. Prokazin, and B.N. Kurakin (VNIILM), on pine in the Asian part of the country - A.I. Iroshnikov (Institute of Forest and Wood). Forest seed zoning is mandatory both for state enterprises and for other enterprises engaged in forestry. The main unit of forest seed zoning is a forest seed region with relatively homogeneous natural conditions and the genotypic composition of populations with pronounced forestry features. In some cases, the forest seed area is subdivided into sub-areas. Within the range of Scotch pine, forest seed regions are unequal in terms of area, representation of individual forest formations, forest culture fund and prospects for the development of the seed base [Forest seed zoning of the main forest-forming species in the USSR. - M., 1982. - 368 p.].

Studies of geographical crops in different parts of the Scotch pine range confirm that the growth of pine seedlings and their phenological development depend on the geographical origin of the seeds. Long-term experiments have shown that pine offspring from seeds of northern climatypes grow more slowly and accumulate smaller stocks of stem and total mass, but are more resistant to adverse climatic factors. Plantations from seeds of southern pine climatypes grow and thin out faster, but are less resistant to pathogens, have a worse trunk shape (crookedness) than plantations from local seeds. Among the general patterns, there are exceptions in terms of growth and stability of some climatic ecotypes. Therefore, the researchers note that one should rely more on actual data than on patterns established earlier.

Geographic cultures created in the 1970s in 36 locations of the former Soviet Union under the VNIILM program contain large genetic collections of Scots pine populations. The results of the study of these tests significantly expand the information on the geographical variability of the species, its patterns, make it possible to identify varieties-populations and clarify the forest-seed zoning [Pravdin, L.F. Growth of Scotch pine (Pinus silvestris L.) of different geographical origin in the subzone of coniferous-deciduous forests / L.F. Pravdin, A.D. Vakurov // In the book: Complex pine forests of coniferous-broad-leaved forests and ways of forest management in forest park conditions near Moscow. - M.: Nauka, 1968. - S. 160-195; Selection of forest species / P.I. Molotkov and others - M .:; Forest industry, 1982. - 224 p.; Timofeev, V.P. The oldest experience of geographical cultures of Scotch pine / V.P. Timofeev // Forestry. - 1974. - No. 8. - S. 31-38. ;Cherepnin, V.L. Geographical cultures of Scotch pine in Transbaikalia / V.L. Cherepnin // Botanical research in Siberia. – Krasnoyarsk: East Siberian Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Krasnoyarsk Branch of the Russian Botanical Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences. - 1999. - Issue. 7. - S. 180-193. ;Cherepnin, V.L. Variability of seeds of Scotch pine / V.L. Cherepnin - Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1980. -181 p. ;Chernodubov, A.I. Geographical cultures of Scotch pine in the south of the Russian Plain / A.I. Chernodubov, T.E. Galdina, O.A. Smogunov. - Voronezh. - 2005. - 115 p.; Shutyaev, A.M. Productivity of geographical populations of Scotch pine / A.M. Shutyaev, M.M. Veresin // Forestry. - 1990. - No. 11. - P.36-38.; Shcherbakova, M.A. Successful growth and development of various provenances of pine in Karelia / M.A. Shcherbakova // In the book. Breeding and genetic studies of woody plants in Karelia. - Petrozavodsk, Karelian branch of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1987. - P. 50-66 .; Pichelgas, E.I. Geographical experimental cultures of Scotch pine in the Estonian SSR / E.I. Pichelgas // Geographical experiments in the Baltic forest selection. – 1981. – Riga: ZINATNE. –S.73-81.; Pichelgas, E.I. On the influence of the geographical origin of seeds on the growth of pine crops in the conditions of the Estonian SSR / E.I. Pichelgas // Proceedings of the meeting. on the work of educational and experimental forestries. -Tartu, 1975. -S. 29-49.; Podzharova, Z.S. Study of factors influencing the growth of pine seedlings of various geographical origins / Z.S. Podzharova, E.G. Orlenko // Botany. - 1981. - No. 23. - P. 159-163; Giertych, M. Provenance variation in growth and phenology / M. Giertych // In: Genetics of Scots pine. - Budapest: Akademiai Kiado, 1991. - P. 87-101.; Giertych, M. Summary results on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) volume production in Ogievskij’s prerevolutionary Russian provenance experiments / M. Giertych, J. Oleksyn // Silvae Genetica. - 1981. - V. 30. - P. 56-74.; Patlay, I.N. Growth and stability of pine in geographical cultures of the second generation in the Trostyanets forestry enterprise of the Sumy region / I.N. Patlay // Forest Journal. - 1976. - No. 5; Nakvasina, E.N. Breeding evaluation of Scotch pine climatypes in geographical cultures of the Arkhangelsk region / E.N. Nakvasina, T.V. Bedritskaya, O.A. Gvozdukhina // Forest Journal. - 2001. - No. 3. -S. 28-34.; Mosin, V.I. Influence of seed origin on pine growth in geographic cultures of Northern Kazakhstan / V.I. Mosin, N.S. Sidorova // Protective afforestation and breeding issues in Northern Kazakhstan. Scientific works. - 1980. - V.2. – P. 88-98.; Iroshnikov, A.I. Geographical cultures of conifers in southern Siberia / A.I. Iroshnikov // Geographical cultures and plantations of conifers in Siberia. -Novosibirsk: Science. Sib. department, 1977. - S. 4-110 .; Kuzmina, N.A. Differentiation of Scotch pine by growth and survival in geographical cultures of the Angara region / N.A. Kuzmina, S.R. Kuzmin, L.I. Milyutin // Conifers of the boreal zone. - 2004. -Issue 2. - P. 48 - 56 .; Kuzmina, N.A. Features of the growth of geographical crops of Scots pine in the Angara region / N.A. Kuzmina // Forest science. - 1999. - No. 4. - P. 23-29 .; The study of existing and the creation of new geographical cultures // Program and methods of work. Moscow: VNIILM. - 1972. - 52 p. ].

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