Vegetation growing on the slopes counteracts the development of erosion processes, directly affects the improvement of soil properties, which are largely determined by the morphological structure of the root system. We studied the development and distribution of the root systems of trees and shrubs on the slopes with different steepness in a forest park in the northern environs of Kyiv (Ukraine). The method of complete excavation of plants growing under the conditions of composite topography, in the park stands employed near ravines, where the plants were exposed due to erosion, was chosen for the research. The samples of root systems of 15 trees and 5 shrubs selected from different locations of growth places were examined: under the canopy, in canopy windows, in the open space, and at the slopes of different expositions with steepness from 6° to 39°. The plants aged up to 13 years, up to 3.5 m high, with crown diameter up to 130 cm and root neck thickness up to 80 mm were selected from undergrowth and understory. The depth of penetration of the root systems into the soil and the order of their branching were measured for further studying the anti-erosion properties of root systems. The area of horizontal projection of the root system to the crown diameter ratio, the soil saturation with roots and the intensity of root system branching were determined. Numerical indicators of the spatial structure of root systems are extremely important when assessing the studied trees and shrubs. Key words: park planting, undergrowth, understore, soil saturation with roots, depth of soil penetration, branching intensity

During land unsoldering in Ukraine, so-called “self-seeded forests” appeared on lands that had not been used for agriculture for a long time. The purpose of the research is to find out the erosion control properties of self-seeded forests. Twelve locations of natural regeneration of various types of woody plants on the ravine-gully system of Cherkasy region were chosen as research sites. Self-seeded woods have a structure of different ages from 8 to 25 years. Most of them are represented by mixed stands, which increase their biological stability. They are better adapted to the current climate change. The formation of uneven-aged stands of natural regeneration with high resistance and erosion control properties was noted. According to the qualitative indicator of productivity, the natural regeneration turned out to be different, which was primarily caused by forest sites conditions, in particular, the steepness, the position on the slope, and the thickness of the humus horizon of the soil. The hardness of the soil was determined in the range from 17.1 to 19.0 kg/cm2, which corresponds to an average loose state. The hardness of the soil in the control was 23.9 kg/cm2, which corresponds to its compacted state. The water permeability of the soil under the studied stands was 11.1–27.3 (control – 8.9) mm/min, which characterizes it from the best to chasm. The obtained soil water permeability data confirm the rapid transfer of surface runoff to subsoil, which prevents the development of erosion processes. Natural regeneration on the slopes of the ravine-gully system is determined to be successful, although it requires considerable time for the formation of full-fledged plantations.