Fresh Mixed Coniferous Forest Research Articles

Juvenile wood volume and its proportion to stem volume vs. selected biometric features of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees

The aim of the study was to determine whether there is a correlation between breast height diameter, tree height and stem total volume of Scots pines, on the one hand, and volume and proportion of juvenile wood, on the other. The investigations comprised pure pine stands of the IInd, IIIrd, IVth and Vth age classes developed in conditions of fresh mixed coniferous forest. A distinct curvilinear correlation was found between volume and proportion of juvenile wood in tree stems and breast height diameter, height and stem total volume. Because of high values of determination coefficients (R<sup>2</sup>), which characterised the above-mentioned correlations, it seems appropriate to use these regularities to assess the quality of the timber raw material regarding the proportions of its volume and juvenile wood in stems of Scots pine trees.

Clone archive of the old Scots pine trees in the Knyszyńska Primeval Forest

Archiwum klonów starych drzew sosny zwyczajnej w Puszczy Knyszyńskiej

Variation of conducting area in stems of European larch (Larix deciduas) growing in fresh mixed coniferous forest and fresh mixed forest sites

The paper presents an attempt to determine conducting area (CA), relative conducting area (CA.k<sup>–1</sup>) and mean ring conducting area (CAar) on discs cut at breast height from stems of larch trees growing in fresh mixed coniferous forest and fresh mixed forest sites, representing four age classes and the main crop according to Kraft’s classification. The value of CA increases with an improvement of the social class of tree position in the community, while no such dependences were found for the value of (CA.k<sup>–1</sup>). The parameter CAar, except for one case in age class IV in the fresh mixed coniferous forest site, increases with an improvement of the position a tree takes in the community and differentiates more markedly under the conditions of fresh mixed forest sites. Relative conducting area (CA.k<sup>–1</sup>) decreases markedly with an increase in the age of trees, which is confirmed by high values of the coefficient of determination. Moreover, the significance of differences between individual trees in the main crop according to Kraft and forest site types was tested in terms of the values of CAar. Calculated values may be used to describe the relationships between conducting area and the size of the assimilating organ more precisely than the total sapwood zone.

Enzyme activity of soils after large-scale fires under varying habitat conditions using different methods of forest regeneration

Aktywność enzymatyczna gleb pożarzysk wielkoobszarowych w zróżnicowanych warunkach siedliskowych i po zastosowaniu różnych sposobów odnowienia lasu

The effect of final cuts on the density, growth and health condition of pine natural regeneration in the territory of the Tuszyma Forest District

Wpływ cięć rębnych na zagęszczenie, wzrost i stan zdrowotny odnowień naturalnych sosny w warunkach Nadleśnictwa Tuszyma

Variability of groundwater table, atmospheric precipitation and temperature in swamp habitats of the Zielonka Forest Landscape Park

Results of a study carried out in the Zielonka Forest Landscape Park (central Wielkopolska, middle part of the Warta River catchment) are presented in this paper. The park includes part of a large (15 thousand ha) forest complex called Zielonka Forest. The name pertains to relatively large and dense forest area with small agricultural enclaves situated c. 8 km north-east of Poznan. Park's landscape of the young glacial type, Pleistocene and Holocene formations, was formed as a result of the Poznan stage of the Baltic glaciation. Dominating habitat types in the park are: fresh mixed deciduous forest (58%), fresh mixed coniferous forest (25%), fresh broadleaved forest (10%), alder and ash-alder swamp forests (4%).Analysis of thermal conditions and precipitations was performed for the years 2002-2007 and compared with long-term data from 1987-2007. Annual mean air temperature in the hydrologic year 2003 was lower by 10% than the long-term mean while in the years 2007, 2006 and 2002 it was higher by 29, 9 and 8%, respectively. Low air temperature in the year 2003 was the effect of cold winter. In the summer half-year the temperature was definitely above the mean. Hydrologic year 2003 was the coldest but also the driest (64% of the long-term mean) year in the study period. Variability of ground water tables in swamp habitats was measured in the hydrologic years 2002-2007. During this period the ground water table depth varied from 38 to 181 cm below ground. Mean lowest stages (116 cm below ground) were noted in the hydrologic year 2006 (with the minimum level of 52 cm and maximum 178 cm below ground). The lowest ground water table (181 cm below ground) was, however, noted in 2003 in an experimental plot of the division 85f. The year 2003 was also characteristic for the largest annual amplitude of ground water depths. Obtained results confirm the decisive effect of air temperatures and sums of atmospheric precipitation on ground water table depth in forest swamp habitats. Surprisingly, there was no expected difference in the ground water depth between hydrologic years of extremely different atmospheric precipitations. Smaller variability of ground water level with increasing depth known from the literature was not confirmed either.

Browse supply in lowland forests of eastern Poland

Browse supplies in different growth stages of 4 forest associations and forest site types were estimated. Two ecological situations were compared: exclusion from browsing and unrestrained access of ungulate animals. Harvest technique was applied. Three big forest tracts in eastern Poland provided study locations. Results were tested with the use of analysis of variance. The fresh mixed coniferous forest revealed the highest species diversity in the understorey and regeneration zone, while fresh coniferous forest had the lowest.No obvious influence of animal exclusion upon the number of plant species was found. Altogether, 41 plant species were found in the understorey and regeneration zones. In young plantations shoot weight was higher than in thickets, pole‐sized and timber stands. Shoots clipped in autumn were heavier than those clipped in spring. The browse biomass varied from 400‐600 kg ha‐1 in poor communities to 2–3 tonnes ha‐1 in the most productive ones. Generally, low (5%) utilization of browse by ungulates was found.