Open AccessStructural peculiarities of forest litter in water protective pine stands in wet sites of Zhytomyr Polissia
Author(s) -
Andrii Rasenchuk,
Vasyl Yukhnovskyi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
ukrainian journal of forest and wood science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2664-4460
pISSN - 2664-4452
DOI - 10.31548/forest2021.04.002
Subject(s) - litter , taiga , deciduous , environmental science , forestry , plant litter , ecology , agronomy , biology , ecosystem , geography
The results of the study of the fractional composition, structure and formation of forest litter in water protection pine plantations, which grow in the predominant moist forest vegetation conditions of Zhytomyr Polissia, are presented. The age range of stands varies between 18 and 85 years. It is established that water-protected pine stands in wet hygrotopes accumulate significant reserves of forest litter, which ranges from 33.0 t/ha in young plantations 77.0 t/ha in mature stands. The distribution of forest litter throughout area in most stands is uniform, although in young plantations its greater share is accumulated between rows. In terms of composition, the forest litter of pure pines is characterized by a medium dense structure, and in pines with an admixture of deciduous species, the litter is usually loose, due to the presence of annual fallen leaves in its upper horizon. The thickness of forest litter between rows of young plantations varies within and 2.6-2.9 cm without its clear distribution on the horizons. In medieval plantations, the horizons of the litter are already clearly distinguished. The total thickness of the litter is 4.0–4.3 cm. In the pre mature and mature pine stands the thickness of the forest litter profile varies between 6.0–6.3 cm. In the stands of older age groups the forest litter has mainly a three-layer structure. The trend of intensive accumulation of forest litter in the conditions of wet boreal and sub boreal conditions with the age of maturity is revealed. In pre mature plantations, the accumulation of litter slows down and in mature plantations; the processes of accumulation and decomposition of litter are leveled. The tendency of predominance of the active part and, accordingly, reduction of the inactive fraction of litter in the pre mature and mature plantations of wet sub boreal site compared to boreal conditions is indicated, which indicates more active processes of mineralization of litter in wet subboreal conditions.