Effects of some physical and chemical soil properties on quantitative characteristics of Quercus infectoria Oliv. at Shine Forest of Lorestan Province

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

1 Research Expert, Research Division of Natural Resources, Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO, Khorramabad, Iran

2 Associate Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study was carried out to survey the effects of some physical and chemical soil properties on quantitative characteristics of Quercus infectoria. A number of 36 circular sample plots were randomly drawn with each plot being 1000 m2 of size, in which the number of trees, height, diameter and breast height (DBH) and crown diameter of individual trees were measured. The sampling design was a completely randomized design with 12 treatments and 3 replications. In each plot, soil profiles were dug (2 × 1.5 × 1 m), and samples were taken to measure the physiochemical properties. The results of analysis showed significant difference among treatments (p<0.01). Moreover, comparison of quantitative characteristics and physiochemical soil properties using Duncan test showed that the tree properties (number, height, DBH and crown diameter) as well as those of soil samples (depth, moisture saturation, percent of organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, sand and clay) showed comparatively better values across valley bottoms and northern slopes. In contrast, the southern slopes were associated with higher percentages of neutral solutes. Stepwise multiple linear regressions among quantitative tree attributes and soil factors suggested significant positive correlations with soil profile depth, soil moisture saturation, organic matter, phosphorus and potassium, and significant negative correlation with the percentage of neutral solutes. All in all an increase in soil depth, soil moisture saturation, organic carbon, phosphorus and potassium are concluded to led to more favorable conditions for the growth of Q. infectoria, whereas increasing the percentage of neutral solutes led to reduced quantitative tree attributes. Therefore, the studied physiochemical soil properties are concluded to essentially influence the occurrence and distribution of Q. infectoria trees in the study area.

Keywords

References

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