Abstract
Due to the interest in Alnus glutinosa as the plantation species has increasesed in Latvia during last years, a structural unit “LVM Sēklas un stādi” of State Stock Company “Latvijas Valsts Meži” (Latvia’s State Forests) offers to the local market Alnus glutinosa bare root seedlings with an advanced root system obtained from Alnus glutinosa seeds growed in planting such selected seedlings in cutovers and for land reforestation theorectically will allow the land owner to increase the value of forest and the profit from its management. Practically, this prospects should be evaluated from the perspective of forest health.Therefore, the purpose of this study were to: (1) estimate the incidence of heart colouring and stem decay in Alnus glutinosa stands in different forest types and ages, (2) identify and measure heart colouring area /heartwood hard rot stage area diameter and soft rot stage area diameter/ cavity diameter of the stumps, (3) evaluate the relationships between stand species composition (forest types) and Alnus glutinosa stands age on heart colouring/heartwood hard rot stage and soft rot stage/cavity incidence, (4) by analysing the results to work out the recommendations to improve the forest managment in forest stands where Alnus glutinosa stands from plantations are growing.
Highlights
Stands of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.),Gaertn.) comprise 5.1% of the total forest area of Latvia
In order to ensure and improve the ecological stability of forests, the ability to adapt to various pathogenic microorganisms and resistance to stress factors caused by anthropogenic effects, the territory of Latvia is divided into two regions for (Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.) reforestation
To estimate the incidence of heart colouring and stem decay in Alnus glutinosa stands in different forest types and ages in all regions of Latvia
Summary
Stands of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.),Gaertn.) comprise 5.1% of the total forest area of Latvia. Alnus glutinosa typicaly grows on wet petlands, usually comprising pure stands or stands mixed with Alnus incana (L.) Moench., Bertula spp., Populus tremula L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. [1], [16] Specific characteristics of this treee species are frost and waterlogging tolerance, a strong root system that penetrates both vertically and horizontally, adaption to various soil conditions and ability to fix nitrogen in symbioyic root nodules with bacteria in the genus Frankia [1], [3]. Vertically growing, sinker roots ancor the tree on riverbanks, and they are able to penetrate deeply into wet and anaerobic soils reaching almost 5m deep [9].
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