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Silviculture

Course developer

Replaced course

MežZ3066 [GMEZ3068] Silviculture

Course abstract

Silviculture provides theoretical knowledge of forest ecology, typology and forest use.
The aim is to learn the ecology and typology of the forest to be able to successfully ensure the regeneration and renewal of forest stands, care and harvesting, as well as to be able to increase the productivity and quality of the forest and forest lands, maintaining sustainable management.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Assessment of knowledge, skills and competence takes place on a 10-point scale. An oral or written answer is successful if at least 50% of the questions are answered correctly. The assessment is formed from the cumulative assessment of lectures, laboratory works and practical works. Laboratory works are evaluated according to the established evaluation procedure - after written tests, questions are available in methodical descriptions at the beginning of each work, Activity in seminars (each group must prepare 2 presentations for speaking in the audience) and activity in discussions. Requirements and procedures for making up missed classes: laboratory works must be made up in the specified time and order, one chance is given for oral answers or rewriting of unsuccessful tests.

Course Content(Calendar)

List of lectures (28 hours)
1. The concept, structure and basic functions of the forest ecosystem. Flow of matter and energy. 1 h.
2. Consortium. Ecological niche. Coactions, types, types and forms. Ecological capacity. Ecosystem overpopulation and reference types. 1 h.
3. Structure of forest phytocenosis. Tree stands. Stance. Prominence. Mistletoe. Same-age and different-age stands. Undergrowth, understory, ground cover, detritus, their biological, ecological and economic importance, use in forest typology. 1 h.
4. Sizes characterizing forest stands: dominant and main tree species, quality, thickness, density, cross-sectional area, stock, composition of the forest stand, age class, age group. 2 h.
5. Successions. Classification. Stages and stages. Afforestation of clearings. Change of species. Self-thinning of the stand. 1 h.
6. Typology of Latvian bogs: high, low and transition bog. Fungus. Ecological and economic importance of bogs. Marsh protection. 1 h.
7. Classification of Latvian meadows: dry, lowland and flooded meadows. Importance and protection of meadows. 1 h.
8. Forest, meadow and swamp ecosystems - 1. contr. 1 h.
9. History of typology. Edaphic rows. Forest type. Division of forest types into trophic groups. Association. Practical application of forest typology. 2 h.
10. The edaphic sequence of dry forests and its forest types: sils, metraj, lán, damaksnis, veris, garša. 2 h.
11. The edaphic sequence of wet forests and its forest types: green, wet forest, wet damaksnis, wet veris, wet heather. 1 h.
12. The edaphic sequence of swamp forests and its forest types: bog, reed, bog, lean. 1 h.
13. The edaphic sequence of the Areni forests and its forest types; heather sedge, mint sedge, narrow-leaved sedge, broad-leaved sedge. 1 h.
14. The edaphic series of peat forests and its forest types: heather peat, mint peat, narrow-leaved peat, broad-leaved peat. 1 h.
15. The practical use of forest typology in forest restoration, maintenance, logging, protection and security. Ecological and economic suitability, target, sub-target, permissible and conflict composition stands. 1 h.
16. Forest typology – 2nd contr. 1 h.
17. Types of forest use. 1 h.
18. Main cuts. Restoration felling (clearcutting). Forest regeneration in a clearcut. Promotion of natural regeneration. Conservation of growth. Seed trees. Cleaning of cuttings. 1 h.
19. Random cuts. Comparison of main felling fellings. 1 h.
20. Care cuttings. Tasks and classification. Agrotechnical care. Grooming of youngsters or composition. Stocks grooming shears. Landscape felling. 2 h.
21. Deforestation logging. Reconstructive haircuts. Sanitary cuttings. 1 h.
22. Pruning growing trees. Trees of the future. 1 h.
23. The influence of natural, abiotic and anthropogenic factors on the yield of woody plants. Forestry measures to increase productivity. 1 h.
24. Forest use – 3rd contr. 1 h.
2. List of laboratory work (20 hours)
1. Structural elements of a forest stand 1 h.
2.-3. Sizes characterizing the forest stand 2 h.
4. Classification of trees in a forest stand 1 h.
5. 1.-4. l.d. placement test
6. Light requirements of trees and their determination methods 1 h.
7. Interaction of air temperature and forest 1 h.
8. Resistance of forest stands to wind gusts and windbreaks for 1 h.
9. Forest and precipitation 1 h.
10. 6.-9. l.d. placement test
11. Composition and age of the tree stand 1 h.
12. Change of species and natural regeneration of forest stands 1 h.
13. Assessment of natural forest regeneration 1 h.
14. Maintenance of naturally regenerated forest stands 1 h.
15. 11.-14. l.d. placement test
16-17 Determination of maintenance mowing intensity 2 h.
18. Selection of management type 1 h.
19. Random cuts 1 h.
20. 16.-19. l.d. placement test

3. List of seminars (8 hours)
1. Diversity and importance of forest, swamp and meadow ecosystems. Types of coactions in different forest ecosystems. Change of species and their meaning. 1 h
2. Forest typology and its practical application 4 h
3. Logging (types, goals, tasks and meaning)
4. Types of main cuts, their advantages and disadvantages. Utilization of all woody biomass. Increasing the productivity of forest stands 3 h.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Exam. Students can get an automatic grade in the exam if, during the semester, the average score of the written test papers is not lower than 8. A student who has successfully completed laboratory work and actively participated in seminars, and the number of missed classes does not exceed 15% of the total number of classes, can take the exam.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Prepare for various testing activities (lectures and laboratory works) and seminars, studying literature and working as a work plan for it, using materials developed in lectures presentation and laboratory works.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Assessment of knowledge, skills and competence takes place on a 10-point scale. An oral or written answer is successful if at least 50% of the questions are answered correctly. The assessment is formed from the cumulative assessment of lectures, laboratory works and practical works. Laboratory works are evaluated according to the established evaluation procedure - after written tests, questions are available in methodical descriptions at the beginning of each work, Activity in seminars (each group must prepare 2 presentations for speaking in the audience) and activity in discussions. Requirements and procedures for making up missed classes: laboratory works must be made up in the specified time and order, one chance is given for verbally answering or rewriting unsuccessful tests

Compulsory reading

1. Dreimanis A. Mežsaimniecības pamati, mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem un nozares speciālistiem, A/S LVM, Jelgava: LLU Meža fakultāte, Studentu biedrība "Šalkone". 2016. 219 lpp. LLUFB – 11 eks.
2. Latvijas meža tipoloģija. Jelgava: Studentu bierība "Šalkone", 2014. 118 lpp. LLUFB – 110 eks.
3. Straupe, I., Indriksons, A., Kazāka, R. Koki, krūmi un zemsedzes augi Latvijas mežaudzēs: mācību līdzeklis. Jelgava: Studentu bierība "Šalkone", 2014. 179 lpp. LLUFB – 100 eks.
4. Zālītis P., Jansons J. Latvijas meža tipoloģija un tās sākotne. Daugavpils: Akadēmiskais apgāds "Saule", 2013. 167 lpp. LLUFB – 1 eks.
5. Zālītis P. Mežkopības priekšnosacījumi. Rīga: LVMI "Silava": Et cetera, 2006. 217 lpp. LLUFB – 7 eks.
6. Miezīte O. 2020. Praktisko darbu metodiskie norādījumi Mežkopībā: mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. Meža fakultāte. Jelgava, 2020. 78 lpp. http://www.mf.llu.lv/sites/mf/files/files/lapas/Metodiskie%
20nor%C4%81d%C4%ABjumi%20Me%C5%BEkop%C4%
ABb%C4%81.pdf

Further reading

1.Liepa I., Mauriņš A., Vimba E. Ekoloģija un dabas aizsardzība. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1991. 300 lpp. LLUFB – 250 eks.
2. Ekoloģija un vides aizsardzība: Mācību līdzeklis. J. Švarcbahs u.c. Jelgava: LLU, 2001. 201 lpp. LLUFB – 60 eks.
3. Meža enciklopēdija. 1. sēj. Rīga: Zelta Grauds, 2003. 367 lpp.LLUFB – 3 eks.
4.Miezīte O. Meža aizsardzība un apsardzība. I daļa Meža entomoloģija, mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem un nozares speciālistiem, A/S LVM, Jelgava: LLU Meža fakultāte, Studentu biedrība "Šalkone". 2015. 172 lpp. LLUFB – 65 eks.
5. Miezīte O. Meža aizsardzība. II daļa Meža fitopatoloģija, mācību līdzeklis LLU Meža fakultātes studentiem un nozares speciālistiem, A/S LVM, Jelgava: LLU Meža fakultāte, Studentu biedrība "Šalkone". 2017. 173 lpp. LLUFB – 12 eks.

Notes

The study course is included in the compulsory part of full-time and part-time studies of the professional higher education bachelor study program “Forest Engineer”