Year 2016, Volume 1, Issue 3

Year : 2016
Volume : 1
Issue : 3
   
Authors : Aigars INDRIKSONS, Edgars DUBROVSKIS, Lelde HERMANE, Andis KALNINS
Title : GROUND COVER VEGETATION DEVELOPMENT IN HYLOCOMIOSA FOREST SITE TYPE AFTER THE CLEARCUT
Abstract : Most of the ground cover vegetation descriptions given for characteristic of certain forest site types are made for mature forest stands. However the site type estimation for the practical forest inventory needs knowledge about the vegetation in every age class of forest. The clearcut as an artificial forest disturbance causes dramatically changes in plant community. Especially fast changes proceed during the first years after the clearcut. Due to increase of temperature and nutrient availability there proceeds several processes causing significant changes in ground cover vegetation. In 2015 a research was started to clarify the changes in ground cover vegetation in Hylocomiosa forest site type. This forest site type is most abundant in Latvian forests taking around 22%. The dominant tree species in Hylocomiosa is Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) although the silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) and aspen (Populus tremula L.) can form a tree stand there. The chronosequence method was used by providing the inventory at 5 tree stands dominated by pine. Six sample plots at each forest stand with size of 10 m2 were established. The point-square method by using of 1mm thick and 1m high metallic needle was used for registration of plants at each square of sample plot. The inventory showed significant changes of species composition and projective cover of moss species and caulescent plants. The results of calculation of the Ellenberg’s ecological values and Tschekanovsky coefficient suggest of appearance of plants with another attitude to the ecological factors.
For citation : Indriksons, A., Dubrovskis, E., Hermane, L., Kalnins, A. (2016). Ground cover vegetation development in Hylocomiosa forest site type after the clearcut. AGROFOR International Journal, Volume 1. Issue No. 3. pp. 32-38. DOI:10.7251/AGRENG1603032I
Keywords : forest typology, ground cover vegetation, hylocomiosa forest site type, clearcut
   
download paper

 

r