МЕЛИОРАТИВНАЯ РОЛЬ ЛЕСНЫХ НАСАЖДЕНИЙ В ЗАСУШЛИВОЙ СТЕПИ

Abstract

Forest plantings are of great importance in the forest-steppe and steppe regions because they perform the func-tions of transformation, conservation and restoration of natural landscapes. Their forest improvement role is to create the optimal soil water and air regimes, prevent wind and water erosion, reduce wind speed, thus providing agri-cultural lands with sustainable crops. Such functions are performed by the forest plantings of the Chupinskiy pine forest of the Altai Region where the forest fund has de-creased as a result of felling and fires. The reforestation of the Chupinskiy pine forest is a primary and difficult task for workers of the in the Altai Region’s forest industry. For the successful forest management aimed at performing protec-tive functions, it is necessary to continue the previously begun research in the already created coniferous stands on soils of various forest suitability. The research goal is to study the formation features of protective forest plantings on the sod-podzolic soils of the Chupinskiy pine forest. The research was carried out by the method of sample plots which were laid in accordance with the standard OST 56-69-83. The soils were studied according to the procedures common in soil surveys. Geobotanical descriptions were carried out according to the standard methods. The soil is characterized by a low fertility level; this determines the formation of relatively low-productive pine plantings. The live ground cover on the glades and under the canopy of forest stands differs in composition and structure. The for-mation of 13-year-old protective forest pine plantings set out on sod-podzolic soils in the arid steppe subzone of the steppe zone of West Siberia proceeds similarly to the pine plantations in other regions of Eurasia. The tree distribu-tion, forest crop density (1.75 thousand trees per ha) con-tributed to the formation of relatively low forest valuation indices of productivity (standing volume -88 m3ha). In order to increase the sustainability of the cultivated protec-tive pine plantings and the performance of their protective functions, it is advised to carry out improvement felling of low intensity.