Silviculture and Cinegetics Review - Societatea Progresul Silvic

FORESTRY BELTS SILVICULTURE AND CINEGETICS REVIEW XVII/30/2012
and Găgeşti), in site conditions similar to the
aforementioned, black locust reached height of approx.
10 m, at age 9-15 years and a functionality of approx.
70% of the proposed parameters (due to the absence of
help species and shrubs on marginal lines). In favorable
sites its growth is very active. Maximum diameter and
volume increment is between 12 and 20 years (in the
same site conditions, aged 25 years its production is
similar to the oak’s aged 40 years). Its longevity is over
100 years, but after age 35-40 years, vitality weakening,
drying and culture thinning was noticed (Photo 5).
It sprouts and suckers strongly. It has lateral spreading
roots on shallow soils, and tap-lateral spreading on deep
soils, capitalizing very well the soil.
The field protection belts installed after 1989, especially
in the Siret Plain (at Măicăneşti, Tătăranu, Garoafa and
Doaga—Vrancea County), width of 8-12 m, were
usually made of black locust, in the central corridor (2 x
2 m scheme) and black locust, oleaster and dog rose (in
equal proportions), in the outer lines (at 1 m/line). After
the age of 10 years these forest belts become thin and
very penetrable (Photo 6), oleaster and dog rose (in the
outer lines) are invaded by the black locust and even
disappear, and the oleaster bends down a lot (4-6 m)
disrupting neighboring crops.
Photo 5. 50 years old Black locust, Perieni - Bârlad
Photo 6. Black locust forest belt on cambic chernozem in
silvosteppe, rare in lower part due to lack of bush and
secondary species (Garoafa, Vrancea)
Consequently, since the black locust plantations grow
thin and open with age, it is necessary on the outer lines
locust no longer be used, but at most, some second size
species (osage-orange, cherry-plum, Tartarian maple,
field maple, oleaster, etc.), mixed with shrubs
(hawthorn, dog rose, elder, red dogwood, privet, etc.).
These may ensure regulation of the forest belt‘s
penetrability and the soil’s protection. In this way it is
also ensured both the belt protection against animals
and the limitation of the locust’s and oleaster’s
expansion / impact in the agricultural field. The shrubs
gradually expand through natural regeneration within
the forest belt (under locust), with increasing degree of
illumination at ground level with age.
On compact, heavy or clay soils, or having a high
content of calcium carbonate, those with temporary
flood water, or salty soils, black locust did not give
satisfactory results.
Honey locust (Gleditschia triacanthos), was commonly
used for the field and road protection belts, especially in
the pre-marginal lines. Like the black locust, it has a
pronounced open character. Although it prefers loose,
wet soils, it grows satisfactorily on compact soils with
calcium carbonates and even on those with a low degree
of salinization (Photo 7). It led to good results on
alluvial soils or protosoils, supporting well short floods.
Its growth is rapid, although the first two years it is
affected by sprout biting off produced by hare.
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