Experience of Forest Culture Creations on Solonetzes of Good Quality for Forest Suitability

Abstract

The soil cover in the Trans-Ural forest-steppe was shown to be complex in connection with the presence in it of a significant proportion of solonetzes and their complexes, which create difficulties in afforestation. The latter can be overcome by the use of the classification of solonetzes according to their forest suitability and when unsuitable sodium solonetzes are excluded from forestation using. The process of survival and growth of the pine and the birch in the forest cultures on the solonetzes of good forest suitability, the soil cover of which is represented of meadow-steppe lands of deep and middle magnesium solonetzes of strong alkali-brackish sulphate salinity. We considered two options for the preparation of the soil. In the first case the soil was processed according to the system of black pair, in the second it was according to the system of black pair with the final moldboard plowing. It is established that the dying off the pine and the birch in these conditions lasts to three or four years. At this time it is necessary of supplementing with cultures. Further monitoring for the landings indicates that in the phase of individual growth plant death does not occur, and there are no differences in height growth of the pine and the birch in variants of soil preparation. Period of the birch culture transition to the forest meets the standards, and the pine, in connection with extreme conditions of growth, lags behind standard term. Meliorative soil treatment is not required.