Siberian and European spruce growth in forest cultures after thinning in different forest types in the Middle Urals

The aim of the work is to study the periodic growth of morphometric parameters second-age class Siberian and European spruce forest cultures after clearing. The objects of the research were areas of Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) and European spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest cultures in forest types «spruce multiform grassy with green moss», «spruce-pine grassy» and «spruce-pine berry». For the first time in the southern taiga forests subzone on Middle Urals in three types of forest the growth of even-aged forest cultures of Siberian and European spruce is compared with the cutting of all self-seeding trees but without thinning forest cultures in rows and with thinning forest cultures in rows. Over a 12-year period the maximum trunk height growth for both tree spruce species was noted in the forest type «spruce multiform grassy with green moss» (on micro-raising) and «spruce-pine grassy» (on flat area), and the minimum one was noted in the forest type «spruce-pine berry» (on micro-depressions). In all forest types, the growth in trunk height is most pronounced in European spruce, but reliable differences with Siberian spruce are significant only in the forest type «spruce multiform grassy with green moss» in areas without thinning. The height of 31-year-old forest cultures of both spruce species in the forest types «spruce multiform grassy with green moss» and «spruce-pine grassy» in sections with thinning corresponded to the first capacity class, in the forest type «spruce-pine berry» – to the second capacity class. The periodic trunk diameter growth in both spruce species was significantly more in sections with thinning. The number of trees above the average diameter in sections with thinning in Siberian spruce is from 33 to 55% (without thinning – 20–42%), in European spruce – 36–46% (without thinning – 30–41%) of their total number. The volume of an average Siberian spruce tree wood in thinned sections compared to a section without thinning in the forest type «spruce multiform grassy with green moss» was 27% greater, in the forest type «spruce-pine grassy» – 42% greater, and in the forest type «spruce-pine berry» – 77% greater; for the European spruce, it was 14, 59, and 50% greater, respectively. It has been established that the cross-sectional area and volume of wood of an average tree of European spruce in all forests types are more than that of Siberian spruce. In the conditions of the southern taiga forests of the Sverdlovsk region, European spruce can be successfully introduced into forest cultures on a par with Siberian spruce.

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