Experience in creating forest crops with discrete strip tillage by excavators in the European North of Russia

In modern conditions, a new technology of tillage using excavators is being introduced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the experience of using excavator tillage to create of forest crops in the taiga forests of the European North of Russia. The research was carried out at 14 clear-cuts in the Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic. At the clear-cuts, we laid accounting plots for assessing the quality of forest crops and tillage, and also took soil samples in the root layer. The samples were analysed for soil physical properties using conventional methods. To detect statistically significant differences between the studied samples, we used the t-criterion. Correlations between the studied parameters were analysed using the p Spearman coefficient. In the most of the studied areas, the bulk density of the root layer on the treated strips is somewhat higher, and differs significantly from the indicators in the root layer of the soil in cutting strips (t = 2.1, p = 0.036). Moisture of the root layer on the treated strips does not differ significantly from the indicators in the root layer of the soil in cutting strips (t = 1.9, p = 0.051). Average values of aeration porosity in the treated strips are comparable with the upper horizons in cutting strips (t = 0.02, p = 0.98). The density of planted seedlings as a whole corresponds to the normative indicators laid down in the projects of artificial reforestation. The survival rate of seedlings in the study areas varies from 61% to 98% (84% on average). The highest survival rate is observed in the first year of forest crops creation by containerized tree seedlings, in areas of 2- and 3-yearold crops, the survival rate is slightly lower, especially when planting bare-rooted seedlings. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the porosity of aeration had the greatest impact on survival seedlings (p = 0.564, p = 0.04). In 75% of cases there is a direct relationship. To increase the survival rate of planted seedlings, it is necessary to limit the use of strip excavator tillage on semi-hydromorphic soils.

1. Alyab’ev A.F. Opyt sozdaniya kul'tur eli pri diskretnoj obrabotke pochvy orudiem ODP-0,6 [Experience in creating spruce plantations at the mounding machine odp-0,6]. Lesnoj vestnik, 2015, no. 6, pp. 28–33. (In Russ.)

2. Babich N.A., Dmitriev V.P. Rost sosny i eli, sozdannyh na mikropovysheniyah tochechnogo tipa [Growth of pine and spruce trees created on point-type mounds]: mater. otchetnoj sessii po itogam nauchno-issledovatel'skih rabot za 1976 god [materials of the reporting session on the results of scientific research works for 1976]. Arkhangelsk: AILILKH Publ., 1977, pp. 35–36. (In Russ.)

3. Bondarev A.G. Fizicheskie svojstva pochv kak teoreticheskaya osnova prognoza ih uplotneniya [Physical properties of soils as a theoretical basis for the forecast of their compaction]. The influence of agricultural machinery on the soil. Moscow: Nauka Publ., 1981, pp. 80–85. (In Russ.)

4. Grable A.R., Siemer E.G. Effects of bulk density, aggregate size, and soil water suction on oxygen diffusion, redox potentials, and elongation of corn roots. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc., 1968, vol. 32, pp. 180–186.

5. Hall P. Mechanical site preparation using excavators. N.Z. FORESTRY, 1995, pp. 31–35.

6. Ipatov L.F. Rost opytnyh kul'tur S.V. Alekseeva, sozdannyh posadkoj i posevom [Growth of experimental crops named S.V. Alekseev, created by planting and sowing]. Lesnoy zhurnal, 1999, no. 2-3, pp. 25–29. (In Russ.)

7. Karpechko A. Yu. Changes in density and root mass in soils under the influence of harvesting machines in spruce forests of Southern Karelia. Russian Journal of Forest Science, 2008, no. 5, pp. 66–70 (In Russ.)

8. Kozlowski T.T. Soil aeration, flooding and tree growth. Journal of Arboriculture, 1985, vol. 11, pp. 85–96.

9. L'vov P.N., Ipatov L.F., Klinov R.N., Nakvasina E.N. Planirovanie i organizaciya rabot po estestvennomu i iskusstvennomu lesovosstanovleniyu v zone tajgi: tekhnicheskie ukazaniya [Planning and organization of works on natural and artificial reforestation in the taiga zone: technical instructions]. Arkhangelsk: RIO ALTI Publ., 1986. 36 p. (In Russ.)

10. Malahovec P.M. Lesnye kul'tury: uchebnoe posobie [Forest crops: a textbook]. Arkhangelsk: CPI SAFU Publ., 2012. 222 p. (In Russ.)

11. Nakvasina E.N., Lyubova S.V. Pochvovedenie: ucheb. posobie. [Soil science: textbook]. Arkhangelsk: SAFU Publ., 2016. 146 p. (In Russ.)

12. Nakvasina E.N., Seriy V.S., Semenov B.A. Polevoj praktikum po pochvovedeniyu [Field workshop on soil science]. Arkhangelsk: Arkhang. State Technical University Publ., 2007. 127 p. (In Russ.)

13. Nilsson O., Hjelm K., Nilsson U. Early growth of planted Norway spruce and Scots pine after site preparation in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 2019, vol. 34, iss. 8, pp. 678–688. URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2019.1659398

14. Nordin P., Olofsson E., Hjelm K. Successful spruce regenerations – impact of site preparation and the use of variables from digital elevation models in decision-making? Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 2022, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 33–44. URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2022.2028895

15. Ogievsky V.V. O rabote lesotekhnicheskoj akademii im S.M. Kirova v Vologodskoj oblasti [About the work of the Kirov Forestry Academy in the Vologda region]. Trudy nauchnoj konferencii po izucheniyu Vologodskoj oblasti [Proceedings of the Scientific conference on the study of the Vologda region]. Vologda: Regional Book Editorial Office Publ., 1956, pp. 216–228. (In Russ.)

16. Orlander G., Gemmel P., Hunt J. Site preparation. A Swedish overview. Chapter 4, site preparation methods. FRDA Report 105. Canada, 1990. 67 p. URL: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/HFD/pubs/docs/Frr/Frr105.htm

17. Orlander G., Hallsby G., Gemmel P., Wilhelmsson C. Inverting improves establishment of Pinus contorta and Picea abies – 10-year results from a site preparation trial in Northern Sweden. Scand. J. Forest Res, 1998, vol. 13, no. 1–4, pp. 160–168. URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/02827589809382972

18. Osman K.T. Forest Soils: Properties and Management. Springer International Publishing Switzerland, 2013. 217 p. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02541-4_2

19. Page-Dumroese D.S., Harvey A.E., Jurgensen M.F., Amaranthus M.P. Impacts of soil compacition and tree stump removal on soil properties and outplanted seedlings in northern Idaho, USA. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 1998, vol. 78, pp. 29–34. URL: https://doi.org/10.4141/S97-022

20. Parshevnikov A.L. O pochvah na elyuvii krasnocvetnogo mergelya [On soils on the eluvia of red-colored marl]. Pochvovedenie, 1966, no. 5, pp. 28–34. (In Russ.)

21. Rautio P., Lideskog H, Bergsten U., Karlberg M. Lean forestry – A paradigm shift from economies of scale to precise and sustainable use of ecosystem services in forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 2023, vol. 530, article id 120766. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120766

22. Richards D., Cockroft B. Soil physical properties and root concentrations in an irrigated apple orchard. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, 1974, vol. 14, pp. 103–107.

23. Saksa T., Heiskanen J., Miina J., Tuomola J., Kolstrom T. Multilevel modelling of height growth in young Norway spruce plantations in southern Finland. Silva Fennica, 2005, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 143–153.

24. Shein E.V. Kurs fiziki pochv [Course of soil physics]. Moscow: MSU Publ., 2005. 432 p. (In Russ.)

25. Sikström U., Hjelm K., Holt H.K., Saksa T., Wallertz K. Influence of mechanical site preparation on regeneration success of planted conifers in clearcuts in Fennoscandia – a review. Silva Fennica, 2020, vol. 54, no. 2, article id 10172. URL: https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.10172

26. Sutton R.F. Mounding site preparation: a review of European and North American experience. New forests, 1993, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 151–192. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00034198.

27. Uotila K., Luoranen J., Saksa T., Laine T., Heiskanen J. Long-term growth response of Norway spruce in different mounding and vegetation control treatments on fine-textured soils. Silva Fennica, 2022, vol. 56, no. 4, article id 10762. 20 p. URL: https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.10762

28. Varfolomeev L.A., Sungurov R.V. Pochvennaya ekologiya lesnyh kul'tur na Severe [Soil ecology of forest crops in the North]. Arkhangelsk, 2007. 291 p. (In Russ.)