Age-Related Changes in the Participation of Trees of Different Kraft Classes in the Structure of Picea abies (L.) Plantations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-4-193-200Keywords:
forest plantations, Norway spruce, Kraft classes, reduction number, average periodic current incrementAbstract
The research covered age-related changes in the proportion of trees belonging to different Kraft classes in the structure of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forest plantations growing in the central Russian Plain under the site conditions of the wood sorrel spruce forest (Piceetum oxalidosum). The classification of an artificial stand into Kraft classes reflects the functional hierarchy of a single-species tree community and its temporal dynamics. The study relevance stems from the lack of similar research on artificial tree communities. The Kraft classes’ rank structure dynamics were observed in pure stands of European spruce over a 15–90-year age range. It has been found that the distribution of trees (up to 40 years old) by Kraft classes follows a normal distribution curve. Subsequently, the trend in the proportion of each class follows a wave-like pattern, shifting toward the higher ranks (Classes I and II). This is due to a decline at the ages of 30–35, 50, and 80. At the ages of 40, 60, and 90, the proportion of the IV–V class trees decreases sharply, while the proportion of the I and II class trees reaches its peak. It has also been found that the reduction rates for both height and the average periodic current increment in trunk volume are strictly differentiated according to Kraft classes. The intensive growth processes result in the high reduction rates observed in the I and II class trees compared to trees of other classes over the entire 90-year development of stands. This makes the I and II Kraft class trees promising throughout the entire course of artificial forest growing. They are particularly valuable in plantation forestry.
Funding: The research was carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Institute of Forest Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences, topic No. 126021217092-3 (M.D. Merzlenko) and within the framework of the state assignment of the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences, topic No. 126020916823-0 (V.A. Bryntsev and A.A. Kozhenkova).
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Copyright (c) 2026 Merzlenko M.D., Bryntsev V.A., Kozhenkova A.A.
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