Natural Forest Regeneration after Selective Felling in Larch Forests of the Primorsky Territory
Introduction. Selection of the reforestation methods, including natural regeneration, shall be based on the particularities of forest regeneration processes in different forest sites. Today the question of expediency of artificial reforestation in the conditions of the Primorsky Territory remains controversial. The goal of this research is to analyze the success of natural reforestation in larch forests of the Primorsky Territory after selective felling. Objects and methods. The research was carried out in 2020 on the territory of the Kavalerovskiy forestry. The count of young growth was carried out at five cutting areas of summer and winter loggings after selective felling - 2018 with 15 - 25 % intensity in the mature stands of 6-8 age class in shrubby and cowberry-woodreed larch forest. The count of young growth was carried out on the circular plots of 10 m2. In total, 30 sample plots were established at each cutting area swaths and trails along the route. Results. The young growth preservation is ensured within 75% after selective felling. Seedlings and young growth were found exclusively along the trails. The young growth composition in the cowberry-woodreed larch forest is more diverse in comparison with the young growth in shrubby larch forest. The preserved young growth, as a rule, is viable, evenly distributed in the swaths. In the undergrowth, the initial species (spikenard, elderberry) occurred in the canopy gaps, serial species (mock orange, eleutherococcus) and climax species (currant, cobnut) were evenly distributed along the areas of the mature stand. Live ground cover at the cutting areas is dense. It includes fern, ling, woodreed, filipendula, and forest herbs. Particularly strong grassing-down occurred in the gaps of canopy. Conclusion. With proper selective felling, the existing young growth is mainly preserved, it is able to develop future stand. Gaps in the stands canopy contribute to the intensive growth of grassland vegetation, which prevents the young growth concentration. Active germination of seeds of tree species is observed on the trails, where soil mineralization occurs during the development of the cutting area. In summer felling, there is a sufficient number of viable young growth to successfully develop a new stand at 75 % cutting areas. In winter felling areas, young growth is better preserved. Winter cutting areas are subject to more and faster turfing in comparison with the summer cutting areas. Littering of cutting areas has a negative impact on the regeneration. It is best to mineralize the soil surface for better natural regeneration when selective felling.