Growth and productivity of red oak (Q.Rubra L.) forest cultures in the North-West Caucasus

The paper presents the results of the study of red oak (Q. rubra L.) cultures located on the territory of «Kurjip district forestry» of the Republic of Adygea (western part of the North Caucasus). The characteristic of red oak is given as a tree species, less demanding to soil conditions in comparison with other forest-forming species and possessing high decorative properties, due to which it is used for solitary plantings, as hedges along highways, arrays in parks, squares and other objects of landscape architecture. It combines well both in pure plantings and in combination with petiole oak, hornbeam and aspen. Red oak can grow on sandy loam and loamy podzolic soils without stagnant moisture, mainly on the banks of rivers, it grows worse on calcareous soil. The tree species due to well-developed root system is resistant to wind, also characterized by good resistance to damage by entomo- and phyto-pests. The growth and productivity of red oak and related species were analyzed in the work, and the graphs of growth progress by height and diameter of crops were plotted. It was found that in more favorable growing conditions red oak is not inferior to petiole oak in growth and productivity. Keywords: North-West Caucasus, Forest Cultures, Red Oak, Common Oak, Non-Native Species, Growth, Productivity.