Changes in forest stand structure in a permanent plot established in Neka-Zalemroud forest plan

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resourses, Mazandaran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO

2 Ph.D. Student Forestry, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natuarl Resources, Gorgan Agricultural and Natural Resources University

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

4 Research Expert, Research Division of Natural Resourses, Mazandaran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO

Abstract

A permanent sample plot with an area of 6 ha is located on mid elevation of the Neka-Zalemrood forest, south of Sari in northern Iran. After fencing the plot, a metal tag indicating tree number was installed on each tree. A full calipering was conducted, which was followed by measuring the diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of selected trees. Forest structure, proportion of dead wood, and proportion of tree species were studied for a period between 2006 and 2012. Results of the inventory of the total 2375 trees in 2012 showed three storeys and an uneven-aged structure in Fagus orientalis-Carpinus betulus forest type. Further results included mean tree number of 389 ha-1, mean basal area of 43 m2ha-1, mean stand volume of 538 m3ha-1, and De' Liocourt factor of 1.38. Dead trees accounted for 3.1% of the total tree number and 5.7% of the stand volume. Comparison between the two inventories (2006 and 2012) showed that beech trees gained a higher proportion among the tree species in almost all diameter classes, while hornbeam lost more of its presence in the diameter classes. Amongst the DBH classes < 30cm, the proportional difference between beech and hornbeam was more obvious. Compared to hornbeam, Parrotia persica and Diospyrus lotus showed more presence in the DBH classes of 30 to 50cm. Volume of damaged trees (broken, hollow, snag and log) was accounted for 97 m3ha-1, while for dead wood was 30.6 m3ha-1. Within the six-year study period, hollow large trees have been fallen down. Mortality of trees in DBH classes < 50cm provided a lot of scattered small gaps within the stand and supported the establishment of younger individuals and cohorts. In addition, almost 9.6 m3ha-1, comprising 1.6% of the total volume, 28% of dead trees and 8.9% of damaged trees was decomposed. All in all the studies forest was concluded to be tending from the senility to juvenility in forest succession.

Keywords

References

 - Akbari, F., 2010. Investigation of quality and quantity dead trees in unmanagemented forest. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources, Guilan University, Some`eh Sara, 89p (In Persian).
- Amini, M., 2001. Methods of comparision and considering the unevenaged forest stands structure (On the basis of trees number distribution in diameter classes). Pajoohesh va Sazandegi, 50(1): 4-13 (In Persian).
- Amini, M., 2006. Monitoring the forest dynamic in permanent sample plot in Neka Zalemrud forest project (Phase 1). Final Report of Research Project, Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran (In Persian).
- Amini, M., 2012. Monitoring the forest dynamic in permanent sample plot in Neka Zalemrud forest Project. (Phase 2). Final Report of Research Project,  Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran (In Persian).
- Amini, M., Sagheb Talebi, Kh., Khorankeh, S. and Amini, R., 2010. Description of some silvicultural characteristics in a mixed Beech-Hornbeam forest. Iranian Journal of  Forest and Poplar Research, 18(1): 21-34 (In Persian).
- Amiri, M., Rahmani, R., Sagheb Talebi Kh. and Habashi, H., 2013. Dynamics of structural characteristics of a natural unlogged oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stand in Shast Kalate forest, north of Iran. Environmental Resources Research, 1(2): 107-129.
- Amiri, M., Rahmani, R., Sagheb Talebi, Kh. and Habashi, H., 2015. Structural characteristics of dead wood in a natural untouched of  Fagus orientalis Lipsky mixed stand forest. Journal of Wood & Forest Science and Technology, 22(1): 185-205 (In Persian).
- Anonymous, 1969. Forest Manegement Plan of Neka Zalemrud (Section 5). Published by Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization, Tehran, 185p (In Persian).
- Anonymous, 1986. Volume Tables of Beech Trees. Published by Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization, Tehran, 320p (In Persian).
- Anonymous, 1994. Revision Forest Manegement Plan of Neka Zalemrud (Section 5). Published by Forests, Range and Watershed Management Organization, Tehran,  241p (In Persian).
- Bayat, M., Namiranian, M. and Zobeiri, M., 2014a. Modeling the volume, height and wood production for beech trees on the basis of volume and tree number in a 9 period of Kheyrudkenar. Iranian Journal of Natural Resources, 67(3): 423-435 (In Persian).
- Bayat, M., Namiranian, M., Zobeiri, M. and Fathi, J., 2014b. Determining the growing volume and number of trees in the forest using permanent sample plots. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 21(3): 424-438 (In Persian).
- Daneshvar, A., Rahmani, R. and Monfared, S.H., 2008. Review of researches done in Shast Kola permanent plot of Gorgan. Journal of Conservation and Utilization of Natural Resources, 1(2): 55-65 (In Persian).
- Habashi, H., 1997. Investigation the importance of dead trees in Vaz Mazandaran. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, 127p (In Persian).
- Habashi, H., Hosseini, S.M., Mohammadi, J. and Rahmani, R., 2007. Stand structure and spatial pattern of trees in mixed Hyrcanian Beech forests of Iran. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 15(1): 55-64 (In Persian).
- Kakavand, M., Marvi Mohajer, M.R., Sagheb Talebi, Kh. and Sefidi, K., 2015. Forest stand structure and composition in the middle period of succession. Iranian Journal of Natural Resources, 68(1): 31-45 (In Persian).
- Marvi Mohajer, M.R., 2013. Silviculture. Tehran University Press, Tehran, 387p (In Persian).
- Sefidi, K. and Etemad, V., 2014. The amount and quality of dead trees in a mixed beech forest with different management histories in northrtn Iran. Biodiversitas, 15(2): 162- 168.
- Sefidi, K. and Marvi Mohajer, M.R., 2009. Amount and quality of dead trees (snag and logs) in a mixed beech forest with different management histories. Journal of Forest and Wood Products, 62(2): 191-202 (In Persian).
- Sefidi. K., Marvi Mohajer, M.R., Zobeiri, M. and Etemad, V., 2007. Standing dead trees (snags) component of the close to nature silviculture in a mixed beech forest in north of Iran. Iranian Journal of  Forest and Poplar Research, 15(4): 365-373 (In Persian).
- Sefidi. K., Marvi Mohajer, M.R., Zobeiri, M. and Etemad, V., 2008. Standing dead trees (snags) component of the close to nature silviculture in a mixed beech carpinus forest. Pajouhesh va Sazandegi, 81(4): 50-58 (In Persian).
- Tavankar, F., Bonyad, A.E. and Iranparast Bodaghi, A., 2013. Effect of snags on the species diversity and frequency of tree natural regeneration in natural forest ecosystems of Guilan Iran. Plant Researches Magazine, 26(3): 267-280 (In Persian).
- Yaghoobi Arzefooni, H., 2011. Changes in dead trees in a 5 period in permanent sample plot. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources, Gorgan Agricultural and Natural Resources University, Gorgan, 140p (In Persian).
- Zolfaghari, E., 2003. Ecological and silvicultural investigation on dead trees in Fagetum. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, 80p (In Persian).

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics