SOIL PROPERTIES IN SCOTS PINE (PINUS SYLVESTRIS L.) STANDS IN TERVETE NATURE PARK IN LATVIA

Abstract

A research of soil properties was carried out in 2020 in the area of unique old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in Tervete Nature Park in Latvia. The oldest tree stands reaches age of 180 till 260 years. These are the oldest pine stands in Latvia and in Baltic countries still growing in nowadays. As in the vicinity of Tervete there is a pronounced moraine undulating relief, and the sediments are formed by moraine loam of various thicknesses, then part of the pleasant conditions for pine is already provided in the soil. But still the soils in pine stands of Tervete are poorly studied. In July of 2020 there were soil description in 8 pine stands provided to get the information of most important soil parametres: genetic horizons, texture, percentage of clay content, soil structure, colour, pH, carbonates, percentage of organic matter, sum of adsorbed bases, content of P2O5 mg kg-1 of soil. The results of soil analyses were compared to tree stand characteristics. The soil types Cambisol and Arenosol were represented in researched stands. Although the content of calcium carbonates has been considered as an prerequisite of soil fertility, only the part of stands had the carbonates abundant in the soil horizons up to 80 cm. The development of Scots pine stands was found to be equal both in sites with the sand and clay content dominating in the soil.