Journal of Forest Science, 2012 (vol. 58), issue 2

Structure of the montane taiga forests of West Khentii, Northern Mongolia

M. Mühlenberg, J. Appelfelder, H. Hoffmann, E. Ayush, K.J. Wilson

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(2):45-56 | DOI: 10.17221/97/2010-JFS  

Studies were undertaken to investigate the composition, structure and diversity of four different types of North Mongolian montane forest near the southern border of the taiga. These forest types, classified as willow-poplar, larch-birch, spruce-fir and Siberian-pine forests, were found to be significantly different with respect to the elevational gradient. In the study area, two fire regimes could be distinguished at lower and drier elevations, frequent surface fires resulted in less diverse forests comprising coniferous species, which in their adult form were found to be fire-resistant, burn-colonizing and light-demanding deciduous tree species....

Development of chemical soil properties in the western Ore Mts. (Czech Republic) 10 years after liming

V. Šrámek, V. Fadrhonsová, L. Vortelová, B. Lomský

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(2):57-66 | DOI: 10.17221/72/2011-JFS  

The article focuses on changes in soil chemistry observed on plots limed in 2000 in the western Ore Mts.(Krušné hory) on the basis of chemical analyses done before liming and repeated in 2002, 2005 and 2010. In the deeper mineral soil (down to 30 cm), only the increase in pH and exchangeable magnesium was significant. The increase in exchangeable calcium in upper soil layers was significant in 2002 and 2005 only; ten years after liming the effect was negligible, although the number of Ca deficient samples was lower than in 2000. The exchangeable Mg content increased above the deficiency limit in all samples of upper soil, and an increase was also found...

Growth characteristics of oak (Quercus petraea [Mattusch.] Liebl.) stand under different thinning regimes

I. Štefančík

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(2):67-78 | DOI: 10.17221/79/2011-JFS  

In the paper, selected quantitative characteristics of 57-year-old oak pole stage stand were analysed on plots with different thinning regimes at its establishment. Six thinning treatments were performed in an interval of 8, 14 and/or 5 years. We applied the method of target (crop) trees on three partial plots and method of promising trees on one plot with different intensity of releasing the trees of selective quality (promising and target trees). The results of both methods were compared with the control (untreated plots). Preliminary outcomes suggested that from the quantitative aspects the best results were obtained on plots where target trees...

Evaluation of full tree skidding by HSM-904 skidder in patch cutting of aspen plantation in Northern Iran

R. Mousavi, M. Nikooy, A. E. Nezhad, M. Ershadfar

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(2):79-87 | DOI: 10.17221/78/2011-JFS  

This paper presents research results of the performance of HSM-904 grapple skidder using a full tree harvesting method in a non-native aspen Populus deltoides plantation in even terrain conditions in Shafaroud, Northern Iran. Patch cutting as a silvicultural method was used in the plantation (2,000 ha). To evaluate the newly introduced machine to a ground skidding system in the aspen plantation and the possibility to increase the production rate, an empirical time study was conducted. The elements of the skidding work phase were identified and 58 cycles were recorded for the study. The models for effective time consumption, total productivity...

Organic and inorganic nitrogen in precipitation and in forest throughfall at Bílý Kříž site (Beskydy Mts., Czech Republic)

I. Drápelová

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(2):88-100 | DOI: 10.17221/38/2011-JFS  

Organic nitrogen is an important but yet not very well explored component of nitrogen deposition. In this study concentrations and fluxes of organic and inorganic nitrogen in bulk precipitation in an open field (BOF) and in throughfall (THR) were evaluated at the Bílý Kříž experimental site (Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mts., Czech Republic, 908 m a.s.l.) with a young Norway spruce stand. The results of a two-year study (2008 and 2009) were compared with the results obtained during the same time period on forest plots included in ICP Forests Programme in the Czech Republic. Total nitrogen deposition in BOF at the Bílý Kříž site amounted to about 918 mg.m^-2.a^-1,...