EXPERIMENT IN SHELTER-BELT PLANTING IN KAZAKHSTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600300105-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 7, 2011
• Sequence Number: 105
• Publication Date: April 7, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/08: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600300105-1
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL CCffInW1T1A~
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
CD NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
HOW
Economic - Forestry
DATE OF
INFORMATION
DATE DIST. 7
Apr 1950
WHERE
Monthly periodical
Moscow
NO. OF PAGES
3
DATE
Sep 1949
LANGUAGE
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
M. IOCOIUT COITAIII IIVOIIMICI ATIICTIM nl IATIOIAL OOUSI
Or 1Nl IIIT1O OUTU M. TWO IUIlIO Or UR0IA0l ACT r0
/. I. C.. 81 A00 ll. U AI011-0. In 1IAIUIUIOI 0I nl IITIYTIOI
'r rlo
iilmooii ui I100100umoi or TAl i VOWS I s 0105II.Too.
Les i Step', No 9, 1949.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
EXPERIMENT IN SHELTER-BELT PLANTING IN KAZAKHSTAN
Karaganda Sovkhoz, located in an area bordering on the dry feather grass
steppe and the semiL?.'sert, has been carrying on work for more than 12 years
to create tree shelter belts on its fields.
In connection with widely expanded work during the current year in trans-
forming the Kazakh steppes, the sovkhoz wishes to share its experiences in re-
gard to shelter belts and the acclimatization of trees to central Kazakhstan
conditions.
The sovkhoz is located in a typically central Kazakhstan hilly region
where elevations vary from 50 to 800 meters.
The climate of the region is severely continental. Precipitation is not
abundant, amounting to 219 millimeters per year. The temperature range is 83
degrees. Characteristic of this part of central Kazakhstan are the rather dry
southwesterly winds, the velocity of which becomes as high as 30 meters per
second; the average annual velocity is 4.2 meters per second.
The soils of the sovkhoz are dark and light chestnut-brown soils. The
soil and vegetation on the higher hills are unique. On the predominating soil
of only slightly developed broken rock, wormwood and brushwood are interspersed
with considerable groves of elm (Ulmus dense) and spiraea. A distinctive pe-
culiarity of all soils of the sovkhoz is that they contain broken rock, gravel,
pebbles, and sand.
Especially in the valleys of the infrequent streams, in the ravines, and
on the slopes of the hills, there occurs in small quantity such woody and brushy
vegetation as the following: aspen, warty birch, bird cherry, dog rose, Tatar
honeysuckle, buckthorn, black and red current, cotoneaster, June berry, Siberian
hawthorn, tamarisk, scrub willow, and savin.
- 1 GC "Fi-A_ .:u s :AL
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CO: FIDENTT ;*
The sovkhoz has occupied itself with acclimatization work since 1932.
Imported plants were nurtured in the dendroiogical garden of the agricultural
experimental station of the sovkhoz. Many of them could not stand the harsh
climate and died. The rest acclimatized and are being used for shelter belt
planting.
Balsam poplar from Siberia recommends itself as a fast-growing tree. in
16 years, it has reached a height of 20-24 meters and a diameter of 30 centi-
meters.
White and black poplar grew somewhat more slowly and in 12 years reached
a height of 15-18 meters and a diameter of 12-15 centimeters. Because of its
tendency to give off many shoots from its roots, white poplar is not recommended
for shelter-bel.: planting.
Elm trees including English elm acclimatized well and in 14 years reached
a height of 14 meters and a diameter of 10-15 centimeters. The trees began to
bloom, but the flowers frequently froze.
Maple grew rapidly reaching a height of 12 meters in 16 years. Its young
shoots freeze during the winter. Tatar maple and Ginnala maple developed well
as undergrowth. Warty European white birch is quite suitable for shelter belt
purposes.
Ordinary pine reached a height of 5-6 meters and a diameter of 3-4 centi-
meters in 12 years when planted in a clear area. It grew little during the
first 4-5 years. Seedlings often do not survive due to the sun's heat. In
shelter belts, pine grows very slowly, attaining a height of only 2 meters and
a diameter of 2-3 centimeters in 10 years.
Siberian larch was quiescent as to growth for 4-5 years, but after 5 years
it grew more quickly averaging 0.5-0.75 meters per year from its 6th to its
10th year. It has thus far not been used for shelter belt planting.
Acorns were planted in 1946 and at present the 2-year-old oak seedlings
look very good. It remains to be seen how well they will stand frost.
Green ash and hornbeam cannot be recommended because they freeze. Rowan,
Siberian hawthorn, and ordinary birdcherry grew well.
Crack willow can be planted under conditions where the groundwater level
is high. Narrow leaf oleaster grew well even under the most unfavorable soil
conditions. In shelter belts, it is used as undergrowth.
Silver oleaster grew slowly as undergrowth, gave off many sprouts from
its root system, and cannot be recommended for shelter belt planting. Ordinary
and Tatar honeysuckle can be used for soil protecting and undergrowth purposes.
The following also acclimatized well under the conditions prevailing at
the Karaganda Sovkhoz: Siberian acacia, Kamchatka dogrose, ordinary and Amur
lilac, red elder, Siberian apple, Ussuri,; pear, Canadian and Ussuriy plum,
steppe and Canadian cherry, golden currant, ordinary gooseberry, raspberry,
wild plum, Manchurian walnut, and Siberian apricot.
Trees in a 10-year-old shelter belt, planted in 1938, show the following
growth:
CONFIDENTIAL
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LtlTIAL
Species
Hei t m
Diameter cm)
Poplar
10-12
10-20
English elm
7-8
4-8
Maple
6-7
4-8
Birch
7-9
4-8
Siberian apple
2-4
2-3
Narrow-leaf oleaster
2-3.5
2-3
Siberian acacia
1-2.5
1-2