Health condition and features of growth of age-old oak forests of natural origin

A bstract The purpose of the work was to carry out comprehensive studies of the components of old oak forest stands to assess their health condition and growth characteristics. The research methodology involved obtaining biometric data, agrochemical properties of the soil and health characteristics of the stands. On four trial plots with an area of 7.5 ha, biometric indicators of 794 old oak trees were measured, and their distribution was carried out according to the degree of weakening and damage by phytopathological signs. The average age of the stands, which ranges from 200 to 214 years, was determined experimentally. Productivity of old oak stands ranges from 429 to 510 m 3 /ha. The results of the study showed that stands have different levels of resistance to the influence of harmful factors, such as rot, wood-destroying fungi, transverse oak cancer, frostbite and hollows in the trunk. Changes in climate, droughts, hydrological regime, invasions of leaf-gnawing pests and pathogens, etc. contributed to the weakening of old trees in different periods. The novelty of research is the development of a classification by growth and development of age-old oak stands of natural origin. A complete description of all components of the stands is given. The best soilimproving properties were found in the plot of 204-year-old stand, with available undergrowth of up to 20,000 units/ha and a litter stock of 7,984 kg/ha compared to the site where the undergrowth was up to 5,500 units/ha with a litter stock of 6,873 kg/ha. Therefore, the obtained data can be useful for monitoring the condition of oak stands, making decisions on the optimization of forestry measures in aged oak forests, managing forest resources effectively, preserving the biodiversity of the national forest fund and developing strategies for forest adaptation to climate change and other threats.