Maliuha V. Phytomelioration Bases of Functioning of Protective Forest Plantations on the Ravine-Gully Lands of the Plain Part of Ukraine

The dissertation is devoted to the substantiation of phytomeliorative bases of functioning of protective forest stands on the ravine-gully lands of the plains of Ukraine, their ameliorative influence on the territories. The socio-economic and natural factors of water-erosion processes and their consequences, which have manifestations both on a planetary scale and in Ukraine in particular, are analyzed. The age periods of restoration of soil fertility by protective forest plantations are given. Quantitative indicators of their influence on the physical, physical-chemical, agrochemical and biological properties of eroded ravine-gully lands have been determined. The method of determination of the index of tension and сompliance of stands with the conditions of growth is developed; the criteria of forestry-melioration assessment of protective forest plantations are substantiated; basic theoretical provisions for restoration of optimal ecological status of the former eroded territories on the example of afforestation of ravine-gully lands are generalized; the basic requirements for improvement of technology of creation of protective forest plantations are defined. Mathematical (graphical and analytical) models of dependencies are obtained, which characterize the change of the pH index under the influence of protective plantations created on the ravine-gully lands; models of changes in fertility of former eroded soils under the influence of erosion control plantations; models of changes in the integral coefficients of soil improvement depending on the age periods of growth and development of oak and pine plantations and their productivity. The theoretical and methodological foundations of the biological-ecological process of complete soil restoration of eroded lands under the influence of protective forest plantations depending on their age, shape and composition are revealed. The forestry method of restoration of fertility of eroded layer-beam lands has been applied.