Pine self-regeneration in burnt forest area

Abstract

The results of a comprehensive study of the burnt area formed in 2006 on the site of a rocky pine forest in the southern part of the Republic of Karelia, east of Lake Onega, are presented. It has been established that the self-renewal of pine in the burnt area proceeds successfully. Here, young animals of mixed composition were formed. The number of pine undergrowth is 2400 ind./ha. Its number is almost 2 times higher than the number established by the 2020 Reforestation Rules. The young generation of pine is characterized by significant differentiation both in height — from 0,3 to 5 m, and in age — from 3 to 15 years. Analysis of the course of growth of model specimens showed that the increase in height depends to a greater extent on the height of the pine undergrowth than on age. The maximum values of the current growth are 25…30 cm/year. The composition of the undergrowth is dominated by mountain ash and goat willow. The total number of undergrowth species exceeds 1460 ind./ha. Living ground cover is represented by 21 species, of which 12 species are representatives of angiosperms and 9 species of mosses and lichens. Xerophytes dominate — heather, cladonia, juniper polytrichum. The soils are poor and are characterized by the predominance of oligopeat species — lingonberries, small sorrel, lichens. Successful natural reforestation is noted on the site of a burnt rocky pine forest.