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Increment Science

Course developers

Course abstract

Increment science comprises the extent, pecularities, the meaning, kinds, the structure and dynamics of the forest increment and its determinative causes. This study describes and analyses the classification of the forest increment and its evaluation methods, possibilities of development, precision of different methods and its practical usefulness to solve ecological an commercial problems.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students gain knowledge of forest increment content, diversity, ecological and forestry significance, detection methods and opportunities to use forest growth as a criterion for determining the impact of forest productivity and environmental factors - seminar: analysis of individual tasks. Students acquire the skill to choose the most appropriate method of determining increment and use it to solve specific tasks - practical work. After completing the study course, students are competent to analyze the retrospective and future dynamics of wood resources and evaluate the effect of various environmental factors - seminar: analysis of the performance of individual tasks.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Content, meaning and types of increment. Relation between average and current increment. 2 h lect.
2. Increment variability. Increment of height, diameter and basal area. 1h lect., 1h pract. w.
3. Additional increment. Sample plot installation and surveying. Selection of inventory and sample trees. 1h lect., 1 h pract. w.
4. Measuring the tree annual rings and compiling working files. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
5. Tree increment. Measuring the volume increment of a felled tree. Detection methods. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
6. Increment of an individual tree. Analysis of the advantages and accuracy of detection methods 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
7. Whole tree phytomass and its increment 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
8. Seminar: Tree increment. 2 h.
9. Difference and increment of tree stand volume. Classification. Decay. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
10. Current increment. Classification. Choice of increment type and detection methods. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
11. Methods of permanent plots and sample trees. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
12. Drilling methods. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
13. Chamber methods. Increment forecasting. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
14. Types and determination of additional increment. Analysis of tree growth potential. 1 h lect., 1 h pract. w.
15. Statistical method. Increment and forest resources monitoring. 2 h lect.
16. Seminar: Difference and increment of stands, parts of stands and clusters. 2 h.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Students have to participate in seminars and complete an individual task. Attendance of classes (lectures and practical work) - not less than 50%.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Literature studies, individual assignment and presentation. Students receive a task to characterize the increment of a separate tree and stand, during the practical work successively performing calculations and presenting the results in two seminars. The report on the completion of the individual task has to be submitted electronically (MS Word and MS Excel documents) and in printed form, as well as presented at the seminar in the form of a PowerPoint presentation.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final assessment of the study course depends on the assessment obtained in the analysis and presentation of the individual task, as well as the quality of practical work.

Compulsory reading

1.Liepa I. Meža taksācija.- Rīga: Avots, 2018.- 238 lpp. ISBN 978-9934-534-78-2.
2.Liepa I. Pieauguma mācība.- Jelgava: LLU, 1996., 124 lpp. ISBN10: 998459601x.
3. Лиепа И., Динамика древесных запасов: Прогнозирование и экология. Рига: Зинатне, 1980.- 170 c.

Further reading

1. Schweingruber F.H., Tree rings and environment. Dendroecology. – Bern, Stuttgart, Vienna, 1996.- 609 pp.
2. Liepa I. Audžu krājas tekošā pieauguma noteikšanas četru urbšanas metožu precizitātes salīdzinājums. Mežzinātne 23(56), 2011.- 58.-70. lpp.
3. Līpiņš L., Liepa I. Apaļo kokmateriālu uzmērīšana.- Jelgava: SIA Latgales druka, 2007.- 104. lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības Universitāte. Raksti. ISSN: 1407-4427. Rural Sustainability Research. Proceedings of the Latvia University of Agriculture. Berlin: De Gruyter Open. ISSN: 2256-0939.
2. Zinātnisko konferenču rakstu krājumi izvēlētajā zinātnes apakšnozarē.
3. Mežzinātne. ISSN: 1407-270X.

Notes

Study course optional for students of bachelor study programme's “Forest science”, “Forest engineer” and “Wood Processing”.