ANALYSIS OF LARCH PLANTATIONS GROWING IN THE MEŠKAPIEVIS FORESTRY OF THE PRIENAI REGIONAL UNIT

Abstract

When planting forest seedlings, larch trees are not chosen as a replanting or establishment option due to the perception that they are unproductive and not resistant to pests and climatic conditions. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of environmental factors on the actual taxonomic parameters of pure and mixed European larch stands (and their hybrids) of the III-IV age class in the Meškapievis Forestry of the Prienai Regional Unit. The objectives are: (i) to perform a dendrometric analysis of pure and mixed European larch stands (and their hybrids) in the Meškapievis Forestry of the Prienai Regional Unit; (ii) to determine the quantitative and qualitative parameters of European larch stands (and their hybrids) in the Meškapievis Forestry of the Prienai Regional Unit. Data were collected at accounting sites. The research methodology is based on the methodology used in the national forest inventory (Kuliešis, Kasperavičius, Kulbokas, 2010). After analyzing the collected data, it was found that: (i) during the analysis of dendrometric indicators, the average ratio of the thickness and height of larch trees of the III-IV age class is greater than 1, with the most promising vegetation being Ncs and Lcp (according to the generated volume of larch stands V/ha); (ii) of all the trees included in the accounting, 7.1% belong to the first Kraft class, 29.4% to the second, 31.7% to the third, 17.7% to the fourth, and 14.1% to the fifth Kraft class; (iii) the assessment of the sanitary condition of larch trees of the III-IV age class showed that 55.6% of trees are in good condition, 32.5% in average condition, 7.2% in critical condition, and only 4.7% in bad condition.