Effect of terms and conditions of cutting propagation on the rooting of coniferous trees

¹ Siberian Institute of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 132, Lermontov Str., Irkutsk, 664033, Russia
² Federal State-Funded Educational Institution of Higher Education ‘Irkutsk State Agrarian University named after A.A. Ezhevsky’, Molodezhny, Irkutsk district, Irkutsk region, 664038, Russia

^* Corresponding author: elenasolya@mail.ru

Abstract

The Irkutsk region has large forests. They occupy 83% of the territory and amount to more than 11% of the total Russian forests. The active production growth has a negative impact on the environment. Every year, millions of hectares of forest are cut down for the production needs. 14.1 million m³ of wood was harvested only during January-June 2022. Most of the harvested wood is coniferous. Therefore, the need for high-quality planting material is growing every year. The problem of reforestation can be solved by creating a technology for cutting propagation of the main coniferous trees. Our research was devoted to the study of the effect of various terms of propagation of the family Pinaceae representatives by softwood cutting and the conditions for its realization on the yield of planting material. Cutting harvesting was carried out in four terms: from the third decade of June to the end of July. Different conditions were used for cutting propagation: a greenhouse with a mist irrigation system and a climate chamber with manual watering. The study showed that the cuttings planted in the third decade of June into the greenhouses with the controlled mist irrigation systems are characterized by powerful roots.