Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of selected soil preparation methods and methods of utilising logging residues on the height of a 7-year-old Scots pine stand (Pinus sylvestris L.). Measurements of tree height were carried out in September 2015 in the Bierzwnik Forest District. The analysis included three logging residue utilisation methods (complete removal; leaving twigs and utilising bigger branches; comminution of all residues) and three methods of soil preparation (ploughing ridges; scarifying with a rotary tiller; ploughing furrows with LPZ-75). The analyses showed a statistically significant effect of the soil preparation methods and the interaction of soil preparation methods and logging residue utilisation methods on the height of 7-year-old pines. There was no statistically significant effect of logging residue utilisation on the height of 7-year-old pines. The optimal variant for the height of pine trees was to combine ploughing furrows with an LPZ-75 plough and complete removal of logging residues. The lowest average values of tree height were recorded in the variant of scarifying with a rotary tiller and leaving twigs while utilising bigger branches.