The Production and Ecological Potential of Pine Stands on Anthropogenic Soils of Post-Mining Sites

Extraction of mineral resources constituted the development of industrial companies worldwide. But it has a major impact on the landscape and environment. Restoration of areas disturbed by mining is current issue especially on large surfaces after surface mining. In the Sokolov region, the forest reclamation was carried out on the Antonin spoil bank in the years 1969-1972, where forest stands of different species composition were established under the same conditions. The aim of this work is to compare the mixed pine stands on anthropogenic soils more than 40 years after their foundation, to assess their suitability for reclamation and to describe the influence of admixed deciduous trees on the production and ecological potential of the site. On the plots the basic mensurational and production quantities of the stand were measured. The dendrochronological analysis was performed and the diameter increment was detected for the main species Scots pine. Based on the diameter increment, the tolerance analysis was carried out for the highest risk factor on these sites - drought. The most appropriate in local conditions seems to be a structure of pine stands with an admixture of lime trees, which is characterized by the highest production, soil formation and ecological potential. The work also points to two important factors that significantly influenced the silviculture on the Antonin spoil bank. It is the neglect of stand tending, and thus significant disruption in stand stability, and limiting intake of water, causing significant declines in increment regardless of an admixture or character of the stands