RESPONSE REACTION OF SCOTS PINE PINUS SYLVESTRIS L. AFTER FOREST FIRE IN FOREST SITE TYPE HYLOCOMIOSA

Abstract

Many factors explain the importance of the research: role of forest industry in Latvian national economy, predicted climate changes in future that foresee better conditions for forest fires, and the fact that until this moment in Latvia there is very little research about radial growth dynamic after forest fire. Object of the research is surface fire affected middle-age managed Scots pine stands in forest site type Hylocomiosa. The empirical material was collected in 500 m² large circular sample plots in both fire affected and fire unaffected parts of forest stands. At sample plots, dendrometric parameters of trees were measured. After low to medium intensity surface fire forest stand radial growth dynamics is positive, but effect of forest fire impact is negligible – in six year period six cubic meters per hectare or in average one cubic meter per hectare per year. Forest fire significantly does not affect mortality of trees in middle-age Scots pine forest stand in forest site type Hylocomiosa, p = 0.19 > α= 0.05. Minimal financial loss as result of deadwood volume after forest fire is 2179.00 EUR ha^-1.

 Keywords: forest fire, Pinus sylvestris L., dynamics of radial growth, sanitary condition, forest site type Hylocomiosa.

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.072