Growth and formation patterns of pine-larch saplings in conditions of Eastern Siberia

Researches and generalizations of information on basic patterns of formation, growth, and structure of Irkutsk region forest stands and plantations enabled to study dynamics of formation and productivity of mixed pine forests, being naturally developed under various economic impacts. Such parameters as diameter-, height-, and volume-wise pine and larch increment in mixed forest stands were studied. The obtained results were accurate due to a wealth of experimental material, statistical and mathematical processing using MS Excel application software, graphic methods of processing the materials. The following conclusions can be made based on the materials collected: areas and yields of larch in Irkutsk region have been sharply reduced, since there are processes of intense deforestation and weak natural regeneration of larch here. Mixed forest plantations of pine and larch grow rather successfully, however, such areas are few, since there is no commercial procurement of larch seeds in Irkutsk region, no larch seedlings are cultivated in nursery forests; larch saplings occupy a much smaller area than Scots pine saplings do; basic taxation parameters and structure of mixed pine-larch forest plantations are formed at the young age; saplings have mean productivity, equivalent to the 3rd yield class; mixed forest stands are of high practical and industrial value that depends on conditions of domestic and foreign market.