The characteristics of some pine stands from outside the habitat, affected by drying

Abstract

In recent years, an alarming evolution of the drying phenomenon of pine stands from outside the habitat has been reported. Previous researches have shown that the most vulnerable are the pure, dense stands, not covered in time with care works, aged 30–40 years. The paper presents synthetic data on the structural and qualitative parameters of the affected stands as well as biometric and qualitative characteristics of the pine trees. The research was carried out in 2020, in pine stands affected by drying in order to substantiate ecological reconstruction solutions. The analyzed pine stands have an inadequate structure in relation with the number of trees, the remaining trees being affected by drying in the proportion of 58-71% of the total number. Drying also causes the depreciation of the wood in the internal structure. Analyzes carried out on trees from the species Pinus sylvestris, Pinus ponderosa and Pinus strobus revealed the proportion of depreciated wood through variations in micro-forage resistance (R). The decrease in micro-forage resistance, indicates the increase in the proportion of degraded wood. At Pinus strobus, relatively high proportions of depreciated wood were recorded (between 6-41%). The analyzed trees were included in the category of those strongly damaged (density index (Id <0.68) and degree of defoliation (DD=26-60%), and their ecological reconstruction is necessary. The results obtained are particularly important considering the restoration need and sustainable management of those large areas with pine stands from outside the habitat, affected by drying, existing at the national level.