Zakharchuk V. Ecological features of forest ecosystem restoration on radioactively contaminated lands of Zhytomyr Polissya

An estimation of the natural pine forest regeneration on the Zhytomyr Polissya lands, which had been excluded from the agricultural usage due to radioactive contamination as a result of the Chornobyl accident. It was established that the main ecological factors influencing the natural regeneration of woody vegetation on the waterfalls are: soil conditions, watering level of the territory, species composition and ground vegetation density. Natural pine forest renewal on agricultural lands varies according to its age and location.The largest number of self-seedings per unit of land area forms at a distance of 0-50 m from the tree stand of reproductive age. The number of trees per unit of land area gradually decreases with increasing of the distance from the source of seeds. At thedistance of 50–100 and 100–150 m from the tree stand the number of self-seedings per unit of land area was 1.1 and 1.2 times smaller respectively. It is proved that the successful pine forest restoration is possible under condition of availability of fertile age woodland next to the fallow on the dominant winds way and satisfying soil watering during the growing season within 2–3 years after the seeds accumulation.