Influence of winter storage methods of acorns on the development and growth processes of common oak

Abstract

The economic value and biological stability of common oak stands (Quercus robur L.), grown from acorns is substantially higher in comparison with plantings of undergrowth origin. Therefore, the cultivation of acorn oak stands is relevant and promising, especially where there is no natural restoration of oak. The purpose of the study was the improvement of seed production technology and cultivation of high-quality planting material of common oak seeds with various methods of winter storage to expand the area of oak forests. In the course of the study, forest-cultural (determination of quality indicators of acorns, planting material, and forest cultures), biometric (determination of growth indicators and mass of planting material), and classical statistical research methods were used. The study was conducted on the territory of the forest fund of the Hertsaevsky state special Forestry and Kuzmynsky Forestry branches of “Chernivtsi Forestry” of the state specialised economic enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”. It is shown that each of the winter storing methods of acorns of common oak has its own advantages and disadvantages, which are more or less manifested in different methods of cultivation. As a result of comparing the influence of different cultivation methods on the development of common oak plants grown from seeds stored in a trench method, it was determined that the best growth parameters of the aboveground part of plants were observed when using the larding method. However, the least intensive development of the root system was observed when growing oak with a closed root system. It was found that the weighted average biometric indicators of the growth processes of common oak plants grown from seeds that were stored in tap water were the highest when growing acorns by larding. It is proved that the experimental plants of common oak grown from seeds that were stored in a cellar with sand lagged behind in the development of the aboveground part when grown by a landing method. It was established that the root system developed worse when growing plants with an open root system. The proposed acorn storage technology can be applied to improve the efficiency and quality of reproduction of oak stands by forestry enterprises in Ukraine