SANITARY CONDITION OF PICEA ABIES (L. ) KARST. YOUNG FOREST STANDS DEPENDING ON THE SPATIAL SPECIFICITY

Abstract

As a result of nature resources intensive use, most of ecosystems have beenconverted. Anthropogenic impact includes changes of forest stands structure andtheir spatial specificity in the forest area. Accordingly the sanitary state of Norwayspruce young forest stands can be affected by different risk impact factors ofmanagement. The aim of the research was to analyze the spruce Picea abies (L. )Karst. young forest stands sanitary condition depending on forest plots spatialspecificity and location in the forest areas. The data were collected in 4 regions ofLatvia in spruce young forest stands (1 - 40 years old). The research was conductedin young natural and artificial stands (pure – 44, mixed – 42). In total 502 sampleplots with a total area of 28250 mwere installed. The particular plot size (25, 50,100 and 200 m) were selected depending on the stand average tree height, whiletheir number depended on the forest stand area. A total area of investigated foreststands were 127. 5 hectares. Results showed that the expression of spatial specificsdepended on risk factors and their intensity, as well as the environmentalcharacteristics. Damages caused by abiotic risk factors at different forest standswere not the same regarding intensity, nature and volume, but more or less closelywere related to all site conditions. Spatial specificity of forest stands area (regularand irregular), as well as their location in the forest massif significantly affects thespruce young forests sanitary status (respectively p=0. 027 and p=0. 002). Differentrisk factors damage to forests, bordering with spruce or pine young growths,cutovers and various types of infrastructure, were identified as much moreimportant.