The growth and productivity of larch stands in conditions of urbanized environment, in European Russia

Abstract

Urban forests have great ecological value as facilities for maintaining a favourable environment for the life of citizens. The development of industrial production and increased traffic flows lead to air pollution in cities, which contributes to a decrease in the productivity of tree stands, an increase in their decline and a decrease in their growth. The aim of this paper is to analyze the growth and productivity of larch stands under different anthropogenic influences and to develop recommendations for increasing their stability and durability. The materials for the study were data from the repeated measurements of permanent inventory plots at the Experimental Forest District of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow ‘Timiryazev’ Agricultural Academy and forest areas of the Moscow Region. The growth of stands of mean height in the permanent inventory plots does not correspond to the scale of site class determination: first, the forest site index is upgraded, and then it is declined. The results of the analysis of growth and productivity of larch stands have shown that these trees can be recommended for use in urban landscaping as they demonstrate high resistance to adverse effects. Mixed pine-larch stands are the most promising for urban landscaping.

Key words: Larch stands, urbanized environment, growth, productivity.