PHENOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EUROPEAN LARCH POPULATIONS ORIGINATING FROM POLAND IN EXPERIMENTAL PLANTATIONS AT THE DUBRAVA REGIONAL BRANCH OF THE VMU

Abstract

This article presents the results of observations of autumn phenology (yellowing and falling of needles) and establishment and survival of European larch stands originating from 6 different regions of Poland (Radom, Katowice, Krakow, Krosno, Lublin, IBL) conducted at the Dubrava branch of the State Forest Enterprise. The study was carried out in two stages: on 2024-11-15, the establishment of larch trees was visually assessed, taking into account their vitality (living trees had needles, dead ones were dry) and the activity of yellowing and falling of needles, assessed according to the 5-point scale of autumn phenology, where 1 point means all needles are green, and 5 points mean all needles are brown and their loss is no more than 50%. A year later, on 2025-11-20, the survival of larch trees was assessed based on visual and structural changes (the tree had disappeared from its location, was dry or had not grown during the year) and a repeated assessment of autumn phenology was carried out. The results of the study revealed that the overall establishment rate of European larch families was 70.16 percent, and the survival rate was 57.24 percent. In 2024, the average phenology of needle yellowing and falling was 2.8 ± 0.5 points (phenological stages ranged from 1.8 to 4.0 points), while in 2025 it was 3.3 ± 0.5 points (phenological stages ranged from 2.3 to 4.6 points). Summing up the results of the study, it can be stated that populations from Southern Poland, which naturally grow in milder conditions and in lower areas, are characterized by a later autumn phenology and better establishment and survival rates than families of central origin, which indicates that these families of European larch are better suited for survival in the climatic conditions of Lithuania.