Development of ground vegetation following shelterwood cuttings in pine forests, Lithuania

Abstract

The aim of study was to assess the development of ground vegetation and regeneration in pine forests on sand soil after shelterwood cuttings. The study was carried out in eastern part of Lithuania. We selected pine stands in which shelterwood cuttings were applied within 2004 and 2009. We located plots in the each shelterwood cutting of different year (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years). The size of plot was 100 m2 (10x10 m). All mosses, lichens, herbaceous vegetation and dwarf shrubs were recorded and projection cover was assessed. Seedlings and saplings were counted in twenty 1x1 m subplots. Average species number of ground vegetation in control stands was significantly lower than in shelterwood cuttings. The most abundant herbaceous species in control stands were Vaccinium myrtillus L. and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. In shelterwood cuttings the light demanding species such as Calamagrostis arundinacea L., Chamerion angustifolium L., Pteridium aquilinum L., and Agrostis capilaris L. prevailed. Projection cover of ground vegetation decreased after shelterwood cuttings at once due to mechanical disturbance. Later total projection cover of herbaceous vegetation increased due to changed environmental conditions. The most intensive regeneration Scots pine was in 2-3 years old shelterwood cuttings; while Silver Birch had the most intensive regeneration in 4-5 years old shelterwood cuttings.