Forest development forms the foundation for the advancement of sustainable forest management that integrates the knowledge of natural and anthropogenic processes with ecological and biological insights. This study aims to emphasize the role of assisted natural regeneration and balanced forest development phases in fostering closer-to-nature management approaches, contributing to resilient forest ecosystems capable of self-regulation and biodiversity support in the face of anthropogenic and climatic challenges. This study focuses on forest development in Lithuania based on five National Forest Inventories (NFIs) from 2002 to 2022. We examine the tree volume structure of the growing stock by stand type and forest type series from the point of view of stand age and forest development phases. This is performed by applying the standardized methodologies of the Lithuanian National Forest Inventory. Our analysis focuses on broader patterns derived from the selected NFI data rather than stand-level details. Our findings demonstrate that long-term observation of dynamic National Forest Inventories can aid in the development of closer-to-nature forest management methods for different forest type series. In order to implement the European Union’s strategy and policy for closer-to-nature forest management, we call for the use of “assisted succession” methods in commercial forests, promoting the formation of mixed-species forest stands with multi-cohort age profiles, including old-growth all-aged forest patches of >121 years.

This study was carried out in alien warmth-tolerant forest plantations of red oak (Quercus rubra), common beech (Fagus sylvatica) and European larch (Larix decidua). We compared the changes in foliar litterfall mass and biochemical composition after five months of cold period. The mean mass of fresh foliar litterfall collected in late autumn was 30% higher in red oak compared to the larch and beech plantations. After the cold period, the reduction of foliar litterfall mass did not exceed 10% in any of the studied plantations. The fresh foliar litterfall of red oak was the richest in cellular fibre and easily decomposable glucose and nutrients such as P and Mg, larch was distinguished by the highest lignin, N, K and Ca concentrations, while beech fresh foliar litterfall was the poorest in the aforementioned nutrients. After the cold period, the changes in the biochemical composition of foliar litterfall revealed different patterns. In the spring, the beech and red oak foliar litterfall was the richest in N, P and Ca, meanwhile the larch foliar litterfall still had the highest concentration of lignin but, in contrast to the autumn, was the poorest in nutrients. After the cold period Lignin: N, C: N and C: P ratios reached critical values indicating that the foliar litterfall of beech and red oak had started to decompose. The highest lignin concentration and the highest and most stable Lignin: N, C: N, C: P and N: P ratios after the cold period indicated that the slowest foliar litterfall decomposition took place in the larch plantation.

The effective management of soil organic carbon (SOC) is highlighted as one of the strategies and cost-effective options for mitigating climate change, while soil nitrogen (N) often is specified as an essential element for plant growth. This study was conducted to evaluate basic soil physical, chemical, and microbial indicators in three major soil types dominated in Lithuania—Arenosols, Retisols, and Cambisols—under forest land, perennial grassland, and arable land. Furthermore, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and nitrogen (SMBN), their ratio, and soil microbial respiration (microbial CO₂) next to SOC and total N were hypothesized to be important measures for assessing SOC stability under different land uses. Therefore, selected soil indicators were evaluated in the surface 0–10 and 10–20 cm mineral soil layers. The study results showed higher concentrations of SOC, N, SMBC, and SMBN, and soil microbial CO₂ in forest land and perennial grasslands than in arable land. The higher SMBC/SOC and SNBN/TN ratios indicated a higher ability to accumulate SOC and N in forest land and grasslands. Higher SOC immobilization in forest land and higher N immobilization in arable land were both specified by the obtained SMBC:SMBN ratio. This study identified forest land followed by grassland as the best land management practice that addresses soil C sequestration through higher C immobilisation. Assessing soil in forest land as a control land use next to the agricultural land could be a reasonable soil management practice to evaluate C sequestration in the region. Additionally, it was assumed that evaluation of the SMBC and SMBN concentrations together with soil physical and chemical indicators allow for a more effective assessment of SOC stability. Taken together, these findings support recommendation to develop grassland (and especially forest land systems) through afforestation or within agroforestry system, without reducing the importance of the agricultural sector.

Clear-cutting practices in hemiboreal forests significantly alter forest ecosystems, leading to substantial changes in soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. This study investigated the impact of clear-cutting age on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) focusing on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN), and soil microbial respiration in the mineral topsoil 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm layers. The study sites included 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-year clear-cut sites, and adjacent mature Scots pine stand sites, adopting a paired-site design to compare clear-cuts of different ages and forest sites. Clear-cutting in Scots pine forests significantly impacted SOC and TN concentrations, initially leading to a decrease in SOC followed by an increase in TN levels. We found higher concentrations of nitrate (NO3-N), nitrite (NO2-N), and ammonium (NH4-N) in clear-cuts compared to mature forests, indicating enhanced nitrification and mineralization processes after clear-cut. The SOC and TN stocks were higher in the forest topsoil layers than in the clear-cut sites, except for the TN values in the 3rd-year clear-cuts. The SMBC concentrations were higher in forests than in clear-cuts, which showed the importance of forest ecosystems in supporting microbial activity and soil health. Variations in the SOC:TN and SMBC:SMBN ratios between forests and clear-cuts suggested alterations in soil nutrient dynamics and microbial community structure resulting from the clear-cutting of mature forests. We concluded that further research is needed to understand better the long-term impacts of clear-cutting on soil quality and the status of reforested ecosystems, while evaluating the interactions between soil chemical and biological properties as more effective indicators.

Populus spp. is an economically valuable tree worldwide, known for its adaptability, fast growth, and versatile wood, often cultivated in short-rotation plantations. Effective propagation is crucial for rapid genetic improvement and global demand for forest products and biomass energy. This study focused on the rooting and growth of poplar cuttings, examining shoot collection timing and growth stimulant treatments across four hybrids: Populus deltoides × P. nigra (Agathe F), P. maximowiczii × P. trichocarpa (Arges), P. deltoides × P. trichocarpa (Donk), and an interspecific hybrid Populus × canadensis (F-448). The experiment used hybrid poplar cuttings collected in spring 2022 and 2023, planted in controlled climates with a randomized block design. Cuttings were soaked for 24 h in growth stimulants, namely indole-3-butyric acid, cinnamic acid, and indole-3-acetic acid. After 12 weeks, rooting percentage and seedling height were assessed. The study found that the optimal time for collecting poplar cuttings for best rooting is late winter to early spring, specifically from March to early April, with shoots collected after early April showing the lowest rooting potential. The growth stimulants significantly influenced the growth of poplar seedlings. There was a tendency for lower concentrations to increase root formation and seedling height, while higher concentrations had adverse effects. Despite variations in growth rates, a consistent growth pattern was observed across different shoot collection dates for all genomic groups.