Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry, 2023, Vol.

65 (2), 86–95
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

DOI: 10.2478/ffp-2023-0009

Productivity and economic effectiveness of young black

locust tree stands on afforested sulphur opencast mine sites
Justyna Likus-Cieślik1 , Dawid Leńczuk1, Bartłomiej Woś1, Adam Lubera2, Marek Pająk1,
Marcin Pietrzykowski1
1
 niversity of Agriculture in Krakow, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Ecological Engineering and Forest Hydrology,
U
al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Kraków, Poland, e-mail: [email protected]
2
 tate Forests National Forest Holding, Regional Direction of State Forest in Radom, Staszów Forest Inspectorate,
S
ul. Oględowska 4, 28-200 Staszów, Poland

Abstract

The correct selection of the species composition of afforestation in relation to the habitat conditions has a decisive
impact on the effects of forest reclamation. In most of the reclaimed forestry areas in Poland, the stands enter the pre-
logging period, and it is possible to assess the first economic and production effects of reclamation. The assessment
was made based on the analysis of the size of the harvested wood during the intermediate cutting on the heap of the
former ‘Piaseczno’ opencast sulphur mine located in southern Poland and managed by the State Forests. At this stage
of development, Robinia pseudoacacia played a large role in obtaining a good income from the sale of intermediate
cutting wood and economic effects. The obtained results may be important in the context of indicating alternative
directions for reclamation and afforestation of post-mining areas, e.g., for plantation purposes.

Key words

reclamation, black locust, forest production, ecosystem services

Introduction for forestry are not large and cover several hundred
hectares per year on the national balance of forest area
The area of reclaimed and developed land in Poland (Local Data Bank 2022). On the one hand, post-min-
in 2021 amounted to approximately 2800 ha, including ing areas reclaimed for forestry purposes do not have
over 500 ha reclaimed for forestry. In turn, the total a large share of the overall forest area in Poland, which
area of land requiring reclamation in Poland is over amounts to over 9 million ha; on the other hand, affor-
62,000 ha (Local Data Bank 2022). Land reclaimed estation of post-mining areas contributes to the expan-
for forestry is the largest share among reclamation sion of forest resources. However, the level of difficulty
approaches (approximately 40%) (Krzaklewski 2017) in managing post-industrial objects is completely dif-
and is one of the most environmentally effective meth- ferent in these areas than that in natural or commercial
ods of managing post-industrial areas (Pietrzykowski forests, and it is a challenge (Pietrzykowski et al. 2012;
2015). Since 2005, the areas that have been reclaimed Pietrzykowski 2015).

Received 17 October 2022 / Accepted 21 February 2023 © 2023 Author(s). This is an open access article licensed under
the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
 Productivity and economic effectiveness of young black locust tree stands on afforested sulphur… 87

In Poland, legislation imposes the obligation of The economic effectiveness of the reclamation
reclamation on the perpetrator(s) of degradation – in process depends on many factors, including the costs
this case, the mining industry. According to the Act of developing the post-mining area, the facilities locat-
on the Protection of Agricultural and Forest Land (Act ed on its premises, and the costs of reclamation treat-
1995), reclamation covers the restoration of the utility ments. To determine the final economic result of recla-
or natural values of degraded areas through technical mation, as with any economic undertaking, the length
and agrotechnical measures aimed at restoring soil and of the payback period and the profitability of the invest-
building the necessary hydrotechnical infrastructure ment must be taken into account (Ostręga and Uber-
and roads (Act 1995). Due to such provisions and their man 2010). In the case of forest reclamation, greater
very broad interpretation, reclamation may end at the financial outlays are incurred in the technical and bio-
stage of agrotechnical treatments, and the introduction logical phases (appropriate terrain relief and its prepa-
of woody vegetation may constitute a separate stage ration through agrotechnical measures to introduce
(Act 1995). The stage of afforestation (biological rec- afforestation). The appropriate quality of planting ma-
lamation) and further land management may be car- terial and the correct selection of species for the habitat
ried out by the State Forests National Forest Holding conditions improve the economic effect of reclamation
(PGL LP), to which the land was transferred. The stage through higher investment profitability and return on
of management (introducing trees in an appropriately costs in terms of using the stands. The aforementioned
selected species composition) of the transferred land profitability will result mainly from the increased mass
is preceded by the aforementioned biological reclama- of the stand and its quality (Pietrzykowski and Krzak-
tion carried out by the enterprise that contributed to the lewski 2014). When estimating the costs of reclama-
degradation of the land (Krzaklewski and Pietrzykows- tion for forestry, it should be remembered that the costs
ki 2007; Pietrzykowski and Krzaklewski 2014). The borne by the entity obliged to the reclamation of the
general scheme of action does not cover all the details degraded areas end when the land is taken over by the
and difficulties of biological remediation. The funda- state forest areas. The most important and immeasur-
mental issue is the correct diagnosis of habitats and able benefit of forest reclamation is the protective and
the selection of species composition for stands, which soil-forming function of stands (Pietrzykowski 2014).
affect the long–term natural and economic effects of However, the income from the production of the raw
reclamation. material should also be taken into account from the
In most cases, the evaluation of the effectiveness of perspective of pre-cutting and final harvesting (Pi-
reclamation refers to ecological aspects, including the etrzykowski 2014). In sustainable forest management,
rate of development of soil properties, the rate of soil the production of wood raw material, in addition to the
organic matter accumulation, the succession of vascular ecological and sociocultural functions, constitutes an
plant communities, the growth reaction and nutritional equal function of the forest and builds its economic pil-
status of trees, and the stability of stands (Pietrzykows- lar (Bielak et al. 2015).
ki et al. 2010, Pietrzykowski 2014). For these reasons, This study aimed to assess the economic effective-
there is still a lack of data on the expenditure incurred ness of forestry-based reclamation based on the pro-
by the administration of the State Forests National For- ductivity and magnitude of the intermediate cutting of
est Holding for forest management in reclaimed areas stands placed on reclaimed post-mining land, specifi-
and the profits resulting from the production of wood cally on a dump established on the ‘Piaseczno’ sulphur
raw materials (Pietrzykowski et al. 2012). The assess- mine (Tarnobrzeg region). The performed assessment
ment and modelling of the productivity of habitats, as may indicate possible long-term prospects for the use of
well as the analysis of the economic effects of recla- this type of land in the context of the discussion under-
mation, have been the subject of research and practical taken on the cultivation of plantations of fast-growing
interest relatively recently. This is because the oldest trees, especially black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.)
stands in reclaimed areas, mostly in Poland, are enter- in reclaimed areas.
ing the intermediate cutting period (50–60 years; Kr-
zaklewski 2017).

Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry, 2023, Vol. 65 (2), 86–95

88 Justyna Likus-Cieślik, Dawid Leńczuk, Bartłomiej Woś, Adam Lubera, Marek Pająk, Marcin Pietrzykowski

MAterial and methods (Robinia pseudoacacia L., 30–50 years old) has a sig-
nificant share.
Research object
The research area was a reclaimed and reforested ex- Methods
ternal dump on the former sulphur mine ‘Piaseczno’ The analysis of the economic effects of forestry-based
located in southern Poland in the Vistula valley (N 50 reclamation presented in this article includes the spe-
33.622; E 21 34.185). The site is conical in shape, with cies composition of stands, the growing stock [total vol-
an area of 120 ha and a height of up to 40 m, and was ume (m3)] of stands, the amount of timber harvested,
created as a result of the mining of sulphur using the and profits from the sale of wood raw material in the re-
opencast method during 1961–1971 (Węgorek 2009; Pi- claimed dump. These data were sourced from the avail-
etrzykowski et al. 2010). able documentation kept by the State Forests National
The spoil heap mainly consists of Neogene clays Forest Holding, including stand maps; Forest Manage-
of the Krakowiec formation, loose Quaternary sands, ment Plans (FMP) of the Staszów Forest Inspectorate
and a mixture of Quaternary sands and Neogene clays for the economic periods 1992–2001, 2002–2011, and
(Węgorek 2009; Woś and Pietrzykowski 2020). In ad- 2012–2021; the SILP base; and the costs of timber
dition, the dump was shaped without maintaining the harvesting in the Staszów Forest Inspectorate during
postulates of appropriate selection and management of 2006–2016. Due to the black locust having the highest
overburdened rocks, as there were no clear legal regula- share of the species composition in the last economic
tions in this regard at that time. This sometimes result- period (2012–2021), the value of wood was analysed
ed in the occurrence of landslides and surface run-off, solely based on this species. Based on the analysis of
as well as a significant acreage of clay soils (Neogene the black locust wood prices applicable in the Staszów
clays of the Krakowiec formation) present at the top of Forest Inspectorate during 2016–2017 to determine the
the dump, characterized by unfavourable air and water value of the harvested wood during 2006–2016 and the
conditions from the point of view of the environment assessment of the economic effects of reclamation, the
(Węgorek 2000; Pietrzykowski et al. 2010). In this re- price for 1 m3 of black locust wood was adopted fol-
gion, the average annual air temperature and precipita- lowing the average selling price of wood, calculated ac-
tion during 1990–2019 were 8.9°C and 570 mm, respec- cording to the average price of wood obtained by forest
tively. The length of the growing season in this area is districts for the first three quarters of a given year ac-
212 days (Woś and Pietrzykowski 2020). cording to Statistics Poland. Profitability (a measure of
In the studied area of the ‘Piaseczno’ dump, ini- the benefits obtained from a given investment or busi-
tially – i.e., during the second Management Plan (FMP; ness activity) has been calculated using the return on
2nd revision) in 1980–1989 – 15 forest divisions were investment (ROI; ROI = profit from wood sales/costs of
designated. The spatial arrangement and diagnosis of farming and forest management).
habitats changed in the subsequent economic periods
(1992–2001 and 2002–2012), and finally, 23 surveys lo-
cated in four divisions of the Zawidza Forest District results
were designated (221, 222, 223, 224), belonging to the
Staszów Forest Inspectorate, Regional Direction of The current species composition in the studied dump
State Forest in Radom. differs from that established and introduced during the
Currently, in the area of the reclaimed ‘Piaseczno’ afforestation phase. According to the Forest Manage-
dump, four types of forest habitat have been distin- ment Plan (FMP) for 1992–2011, oak (Quercus spp.)
guished (Forest Management Plan 2012–2021): 28.5 ha had the largest share of the species composition (24%).
of fresh mixed forest, 32.5 ha of wet mixed forest, 71 ha Black locust and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) had
of fresh forest, and 5.5 ha of riparian forest. Current- a similarly high share (19% and 18%, respectively)
ly, the stands are in the third age class (40–60 years) (Tab. 1). Birch (Betula pendula Roth), poplar (Popu-
and consist of a fairly wide (for post-industrial areas) lus spp.), and black alder [Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn]
spectrum of selected species, among which black locust had a lower share, from 9 to 11% each (Tab. 1) ( FMP

Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry, 2023, Vol. 65 (2), 86–95

 Productivity and economic effectiveness of young black locust tree stands on afforested sulphur… 89

1992–2001). According to the last FMP (2012–2021), 2012–2021 (Tab. 2) shows that the growing stock of
the species composition was dominated by black locust, larch (1,120 m3), which plays the role of a production
constituting 32% of the species composition, whose species in forests, was almost six times smaller than
share increased by 13% compared to the first FMP that of black locust (Tab. 2). Comparing the growing
(Tab. 1). An equally high change was recorded in the stock of black locust to the remaining production spe-
case of oaks (Quercus spp.), whose share has decreased cies introduced in the ‘Piaseczno’ dump, a large dispro-
from 24 to 12% (Tab. 1). The remaining species, includ- portion was found in both the percentage share and the
ing pine, maintained similar percentages to the baseline growing stock of the merchantable timber. In the case
values (first FMP, Tab. 1). of oak, the growing stock of merchantable timber was
almost six times smaller than that of black locust, and
Table 1. Changes in species composition in the ‘Piaseczno’ in the last FMP (2012–2021), a significant decrease in
dump its share was recorded.

share of species
the percentage

in 1992–2021
Table 2. Merchantable timber of growing stock for species
1992–2001

2012–2021
Changes in
2002–2011

occurring on the ‘Piaseczno’ dump (according to FMP

FMP

FMP

FMP

Species
2012–2021)

Species Total volume [m3] (growing stock)

Quercus spp. 24% 26% 12% –12% Robinia pseudoacacia 6430
Robinia pseudoacacia L. 19% 14% 32% 13% Pinus sylvestris 3885
Pinus sylvestris L. 18% 21% 20% 2% Alnus sp. 2555
Betula pendula Roth 11% 6% 7% –4% Quercus sp. 2317
Populus spp. 11% 9% 5% –6% Betula pendula 1381
Alnus glutinosa L. Gaertn 9% 9% 13% 4% Larix decidua 1120
Larix decidua Mill n.d. 6% 6% n.d Populus tremula 1005
Other 7% 9% 6% –1% Populus sp. 420
n.d. – no data available; FMP – forest management plan. Acer pseudoplatanus 145
Fagus sylvatica 10
The total amount of the growing stock in the ‘Pi-
Others 486
aseczno’ dump was 19,871 m3 (Tab. 2). Black locust
had the largest share (6,430 m3, or 32.36%). The grow-
ing stock of pine was 3,885 m3 (20.05% of the share of During 1992–2014, a total of 5,262.06 m3 of wood
stands), with 2,555 m3 (13.19%) for alder and 2,317 m3 raw material was harvested at the dump site (Tab. 3).
(12%) for oak (FMP 2012–2021). Poplar had the largest share of the commercial thinning
Scots pine was one of the most numerous species (1,443.43 m3, or 27.43%), followed by pine (966.40 m3,
in the stands in the ‘Piaseczno’ dump (Tab. 1). It is or 18.37%), birch (915.33 m3, or 17.39%), and black lo-
a species that is very often and successfully used as cust (730.49 m3, or 13.88%) (Tab. 3). The commercial
a pioneer species in reclamation in Poland and through- thinning volume during 2012–2014 (5th revision) was
out Central and Eastern Europe (Pietrzykowski 2014). similar to that recorded during 2002–2011 (4th revision,
Comparing the growing stock of merchantable timber Forest Management Plan 2002–2011). When analysing
of the two most abundant species, i.e., black locust and the share of harvested wood of these species in individ-
pine, it can be concluded that in the ‘Piaseczno’ dump ual revisions (1992–2001, 2002–2011, 2012–2014), black
during 2012–2021 (Tab. 2), pine was characterized locust showed the greatest increase in the share of com-
by almost two times less growing stock of merchant- mercial thinning. The high percentage share of black
able timber (3,885 m3) than black locust (6,430 m3). locust at the end of the 5th revision (Forest Manage-
The comparison of data on the growing stock of other ment Plan for 2012–2021) was also expressed by a high
trees introduced into the dump based on the FMP for percentage share in the commercial thinning of wood

Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry, 2023, Vol. 65 (2), 86–95

90 Justyna Likus-Cieślik, Dawid Leńczuk, Bartłomiej Woś, Adam Lubera, Marek Pająk, Marcin Pietrzykowski

raw material during the remaining revisions. During the permissible one-sided curvature up to 8 cm/1 m or
3rd revision (Forest Management Plan for 1992–2001), multi-sided curvature equal to half the one-sided cur-
the share of black locust was 11.13% (29.90 m3), while vature, with soft rot unacceptable (Ordinance No. 51
during the 4th revision (Forest Management Plan for 2019), accounting for 88.48% of the black locust har-
2002–2011), it was 7.56% (215.55 m3) (Tab. 3). When vest. Timber S4 was also harvested with medium-sized
carrying out the 5th revision (Forest Management Plan timber, length 1.0–3.0 m, minimum upper diameter
for 2012–2021), the share of black locust in harvesting 5 cm, one-sided and two-sided curvature allowed, soft
was 22.50% (485.04 m3; Tab. 3). rot allowed up to 50% of the forehead surfaces (Ordi-
In the last three-year period, the share of black nance No. 51 2019), constituting 11.42%; and large-
locust harvested was more than twice as high as that sized WC wood (large-sized wood), class C, upper di-
during 1992–2011. The income related to the sale of ameter from 18 cm, length 2.5–14.0 m, healthy knots
black locust wood during 2006–2016 amounted to PLN up to 10 cm in diameter and decayed up to 8 cm al-
122,858.03, while the profit was PLN 84,352.97 (Tab. 4), lowed, nodules, roses, frontal cracks allowed, frontal-
giving an ROI profitability ratio of 2.19, i.e., a more than lateral and frost: 1 fracture permissible, 4 cm/m curva-
twofold ROI. ture permissible, internal and diffuse rot permissible
In the case of black locust, mainly timber classified up to 1/3 of the felt diameter, external rot permissible
as S2a was obtained. The medium-sized timber were as up to 1/4 of the circumference or 1/10 of the diameter
it follows length 1.0–3.0 m, minimum upper diameter (Ordinance No. 51 2019), constituting 0.1% of the black
7 cm, maximum lower diameter 35 cm without bark, locust timber harvest.
Table 3. Commercial thinning in individual revisions and total for the distinguished species in the ‘Piaseczno’ dump

Revision 3rd Revision 4th Revision 5th Total commercial

(1992–2001) (2002–2011) (2012–2014) thinning
Species (1992–2014)
commercial thinning
m 3
% m3 % m3 % m3 %
Robinia pseudoacacia 29.90 11.13 215.55 7.56 485.04 22.50 730.49 13.88
Betula pendula 7.02 2.61 472.03 16.56 436.28 20.24 915.33 17.39
Fagus sylvatica 0.00 0.00 0.84 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.84 0.02
Quercus spp. 9.75 3.63 101.10 3.55 156.39 7.26 267.24 5.08
Fraxinus excelsior 10.40 3.87 14.33 0.50 51.44 2.39 76.17 1.45
Larix decidua 19.15 7.13 121.23 4.25 107.78 5.00 248.16 4.72
Alnus spp. 2.60 0.97 3.86 0.14 31.37 1.46 37.83 0.72
Populus tremula 90.42 33.65 140.69 4.94 28.02 1.30 259.13 4.92
Pinus sylvestris 60.04 22.35 655.50 23.00 250.86 11.64 966.40 18.37
Populus spp. 0.65 0.24 1080.95 37.93 361.83 16.79 1443.43 27.43
Other coniferous 5.00 1.86 4.00 0.14 12.25 0.57 21.25 0.40
Other deciduous 33.75 12.56 24.49 0.86 157.78 7.32 216.02 4.11
Carpinus spp. n.d n.d 0.84 0.03 1.68 0.08 2.52 0.05
Acer pseudoplatanus n.d n.d 0.00 0.00 44.88 2.08 44.88 0.85
Ulmus spp. n.d n.d 0.00 0.00 1.40 0.06 1.40 0.03
Salix spp. n.d n.d 12.34 0.43 18.63 0.86 30.97 0.59
TOTAL 268.68 2847.75 2145.63 5262.06
n.d – no data available.

Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry, 2023, Vol. 65 (2), 86–95

 Productivity and economic effectiveness of young black locust tree stands on afforested sulphur… 91

Discussion
2016
0.00
22.51

66.57
47.00
191.01
0.00

3128.79

0.00 12 715.54
43.36

9586.75
0.70
Table 4. Costs and profits [PLN] of black locust harvesting in the Staszów Forest Inspectorate during 2006–2016 according to the Wood Price List of the Staszów

Among the many ecosystem func-

tions and services performed by re-
2015
0.00
0.00

0.00
47.00
188.85 191.77
0.00

0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
stored forest ecosystems in the course
of reclamation in post-mining areas,
2014
0.00
0.00

10.92
47.00
0.00

513.24

0.00 3940.54 502.61 12 231.27 48 484.11 37 545.48 2062.24

10.92

9282.87 34 959.95 22 312.18 1549.00

most attention is paid to the restora-
0.00
tion of biodiversity, carbon sequestra-
tion, landscape functions, and soil and
2013
0.00
186.25

219.50
69.40
171.05
17.70

2948.40 13 524.16 15 233.30

15.55
0.00

water protection (Pietrzykowski and

Krzaklewski 2007). Perhaps too lit-
tle attention is paid to the production

The average price of wood sale calculated according to the average price of wood obtained by forest inspectorates for the first three-quarters [m 3].
functions and the possibility of using
2012
253.89
0.00

260.08
52.00
186.42
0.00
6.19
0.00

biomass and wood to obtain economic

benefits (Pietrzykowski et al. 2009;

122858.03
38505.06

84352.97
Pietrzykowski and Socha 2011). It
2011
65.52
0.00

65.52
45.00
186.68
0.00
0.00
0.00

should be emphasized that the process

of ecosystem restoration is long and
difficult, and the costs of carrying out
2010
0.00
0.00

3.25
43.50
136.54 154.65
0.00

0.00 1298.70 141.38

3.25

0.00 2641.84 361.24

0.00

maintenance and protection works are

The price of commercial thinning and extraction in Staszów Forest Inspectorate (SILP data) during 2006–2016.
high. Therefore, the species composi-
tion of the reclaimed and afforested
2009
28.86
0.00

28.86
45.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

areas should be planned to ensure –

in addition to adapting to the habitat
2008
0.00
0.00

0.00
55.00
133.70 147.28 152.53
0.00
0.00
0.00

and caring for biodiversity – the future

reimbursement of costs or even eco-
nomic profit. The protective and social
2007
5.82
0.00

5.82
39.50
0.00

1487.20 229.89
0.00

4519.06 857.17
3031.86 627.28
0.00

functions of such ecosystems are of

primary importance, but the produc-
2006
33.80
0.00

33.80
44.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

tion functions should be equally im-

portant, which meets the postulate of
According to the data obtained from Staszów Forest Inspectorate.

multifunctionality of forest manage-

Income from the sale of wood in particular years [PLN]

ment (Act 1995).

Total profit of wood selling during 2006–2016 [PLN]c
Total profit from wood selling during 2006–2016c

In the area of the studied dump,

Total cost of commercial thinning and extraction
s2k
s2d

wd
s2

s4

Costs of commercial thinning and extraction in

the black locust was characterized by

3 a

the fastest increase of growing stock

The price of thinning and extraction [m ]

among the species introduced there.

Average selling price of wood [PLN]b

Changes in the percentage share of

Thinning in individual years [m ]
3

individual species are the result of

Years

forest management and the different

during 2006–2016 [PLN]c

growth rates of given species. The

Thinning in wood class

individual years [PLN]

great increase in the percentage of

black locust may be due to the tree’s
Forest District

fast growth. A very large increase in

Profit [PLN]

the share of black locust in the yield is

related to the development phase that
the stand enters as well as the rela-
b
a

Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry, 2023, Vol. 65 (2), 86–95

92 Justyna Likus-Cieślik, Dawid Leńczuk, Bartłomiej Woś, Adam Lubera, Marek Pająk, Marcin Pietrzykowski

tively fast increase in biomass of this species (Krasz- of assortments obtained give support to the conclusion
kiewicz and Szpryngiel 2009). The culminating vol- that it will become one of the most important species,
ume increase is at the age of 20 years. On the contrary, improving the economic effects of reclamation in the
the highest intensity of the average annual increase analysed dump. The suitability of black locust to im-
is observed when the tree reaches the age of 35–40 prove the economic calculation related to reclamation
years (Jaworski 2011), i.e., the age at which the spe- was evidenced by the high prices of black locust wood
cies in question was at the time of the research. Oaks, in 2016 according to the retail price list in the Staszów
in which there was a decrease in the share of species Forest Inspectorate (in PLN – current currency in Po-
composition, are more demanding in terms of the fer- land), i.e., PLN 319.80 for WC, PLN 209.10 for S2a,
tility of the habitat; oaks were introduced into patches and PLN 140.40 for stacked wood S4. In the case of
with the graining of Neogene clays and, to a lesser ex- S2a, the price of black locust is the same as that of oak,
tent, mixtures of Quaternary sands and Neogene clays while in the case of S4 assortment, the price of black
(Skawina 1974). The tree species introduced to the locust is approximately PLN 3 lower than that of oak.
heap were characterized by different growth dynam- Due to economic reasons and the ever-growing
ics and their culminations. Oaks, as species that grow demand for wood, black locust should return to the
more slowly than the others, may ‘lose’ their share of planned reforestation systems in post-industrial areas,
the species composition. In addition, black locusts especially in the case of planning alternatives to the
can quickly increase the area of stands in the gaps forest, i.e., the plantation. Until now, black locust in-
of poorly growing stands through their root sprouts. troduced in reclaimed areas played a phytomeliorative
A significant increase in black locust may also result role, ensuring the strengthening of slopes (Krzaklewski
from favouring the species that grows best during cuts. 2017). In the state forests, it is treated rather reluctantly
Black locust is characterized by good growth and high due to its foreign origin (introduced species) and ex-
volume increment. In addition, black locust is an ex- pansive character (widespread species). In forestry, the
pansive species (a widely spread species). It prefers species is considered a nuisance plant that hinders the
poorer habitats, and optimal conditions for the growth regeneration of the forest after cutting stands with its
and development of black locust are found in fresh participation or in the vicinity of the place from which
mixed forests, but it can occur in a wider spectrum, it penetrates the clearing areas and inhibits the devel-
avoiding wet and shaded habitats (Danielewicz et al. opment of native forest species cultivation Therefore,
2018). However, it should also be remembered that in its presence in or introduction to tree stands should be
the reclamation of post-industrial areas towards for- monitored. Despite the high technical qualities of its
estry, we introduce vegetation to soilless areas where, wood, good incremental possibilities, low habitat re-
due to the chemical and physical properties of the ob- quirements, easy adaptation to transformed habitats,
ject, the selection of species is limited. Black locust low sensitivity to industrial pollution, and prospects for
performs two important functions on post-industrial application in the energy sector, it is not very popular in
facilities, namely, anti-erosion and phytomelioration. afforestation in Poland (Woś et al. 2020). Krzaklewski
The anti-erosion function of this species is due to the et al. (2018) indicated that black locust plantations can
extensive root system that the tree produces. For this be successfully used as an alternative method of recla-
reason, it was very often introduced to post-mining fa- mation and development of soilless post-mining areas,
cilities that were barren (Krzaklewski 2017). In addi- thanks to which the possibility of intensive production
tion, the organic matter collected under black locust is of scarce wood raw materials can be ensured. These au-
characterized by a high content of nitrogen in a form thors showed that in the case of an energetic variety, af-
assimilable by plants (Wanic and Pająk 2012), which ter 5 years of growth, it is possible to obtain 3.5 tonnes/
is important from the point of view of restoring for- ha/year (dry mass) of the average annual black locust
est ecosystems. Thus, black locust was introduced to wood increment (Krzaklewski et al. 2018). The use of
forest areas and is now present in large numbers in this species in practice is currently limited to the pres-
tree stands. Therefore, it is justified to estimate the ervation of slopes in reclamation activities and the use
value it can bring as a raw material. Also, the groups of urban greenery in park plantings and along avenues

Folia Forestalia Polonica, Series A – Forestry, 2023, Vol. 65 (2), 86–95

 Productivity and economic effectiveness of young black locust tree stands on afforested sulphur… 93

(Tałałaj and Węgorek 1996). Black locust plantations FUNDING

established on clay soils can be an alternative to energy
plantations of other species of trees and shrubs (Krasz- This research was funded by the Ministry of Science
kiewicz 2013). Black locust wood also has very high and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland.
heating values, comparable to oak wood (Kraszkiewicz
and Szpryngiel 2009).
references

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aCKNOWLEDGEMENTS clay soils. Journal of Central European Agricul-
ture, 14 (1), 388–399.
The authors would like to thank Professor Wojciech Kr- Kraszkiewicz, A., Szpryngiel, M. 2009. Ocena wybra-
zaklewski for many years of cooperation and inspira- nych właściwości fizycznych drewna robinii akac-
tion for research and Wojciech Chmielewski (graduate jowej pozyskanego w rzędowych zadrzewieniach
student) for collecting research materials. śródpolnych jako nośnika energii. Inżynieria Rol-
nicza, 8 (117), 77–82.

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