Journal of Forest Science, 2015 (vol. 61), issue 7

Evaluating the machine utilisation rate of harvester and forwarder using on-board computers in Southern Tasmania (Australia)Original Paper

M.R. Ghaffariyan

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(7):277-281 | DOI: 10.17221/21/2015-JFS  

This project used the recorded machine utilisation of two machines (harvester and forwarder) by MultiDATs in pine plantations of Southern Tasmania (Australia) to verify the impact of site conditions on utilisation rates over a long study period. The parameters of site conditions included type of forest operations, stand age, site productivity, ground slope and forwarding distance. The correlation ratio between each parameter and machine utilisation was low and not significant at a significance level of 0.05. Harvester's utilisation rate varied from 48.6% to 100.3% while it averaged at 77.3%. Forwarder's utilisation in this case varied from 47.8% to...

Selected results of the survey focused on the economic assessment of forest ecosystem servicesOriginal Paper

P. Hlaváčková, D. Březina, J. Meňházová

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(7):282-290 | DOI: 10.17221/12/2015-JFS  

A survey was conducted in the Training Forest Enterprise called Masaryk Forest in Křtiny (TFE Křtiny) in order to determine the extent of recreational use of the area, visitors' travel costs and their willingness to pay for services provided by the forest ecosystem of TFE Křtiny in the years 2013-2014. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the partial results of the research from 2013 and 2014 which was focused on the economic assessment of the recreational potential of the TFE MF Křtiny. The busiest roads in the forest road network and bike trails located in the Bílovice nad Svitavou forest district were selected. The results can be used to assess...

Forest seed treatment with brassinosteroids to increase their germination under stress conditionsOriginal Paper

P. Procházka, P. Štranc, I. Kupka, J. Štranc, K. Pazderů

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(7):291-296 | DOI: 10.17221/2/2015-JFS  

The effect of different concentrations of brassinosteroids (1:10, 1:100, 1:210) on the germination of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) seeds was investigated in stress conditions. The product Lexin (a mixture of humic acid, fulvic acid and auxin), which also supports seed germination, was selected as a reference treatment. The results show that the most effective is the lowest concentration of brassinosteroids which gave nearly the same effect as the reference product Lexin. The data also suggest the positive effect of pretreatment of sycamore and ash seed in pure water both on germination and germination energy.

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Persian oak along altitudinal gradation and gradient (Case study: Ilam province, Iran)Original Paper

I. Hassanzad Navroodi, R. Zarkami, M. Basati, S. Mohammadi Limaei

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(7):297-305 | DOI: 10.17221/13/2015-JFS  

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Persian oak (Quercus persica) were studied in relation to altitude and slope variations in Ilam province. A total area of 1,500 m2 (30 × 50 m) was covered in five altitudinal classes ranging from 800 to 1,800 m a.s.l. Samples were taken based on a systematic random sampling method with 24 sample plots at each class. In total, 120 sample plots (in five classes) were collected covering four gradient categories ranging from < 20 to > 60%. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to compare differences between group means in gradient categories and Duncan's post-hoc test was performed to reveal...

Comparison of Myriapoda in beech and spruce forestsOriginal Paper

E. Kula, M. Lazorík

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(7):306-314 | DOI: 10.17221/72/2014-JFS  

Pitfall traps were used to capture 3,550 individuals and 34 species of Myriapoda in five pairs of Norway spruce and beech stands in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. (Czech Republic). Differences in the occurrence of Chilopoda, Diplopoda and Isopoda on sites with spruce and beech were determined by F-test. Diplopoda and Isopoda preferred beech stands and Chilopoda spruce stands. The species Protracheoniscus politus (Koch) (Isopoda) indicated a positive relation to beech stands. Among Diplopoda, a strong linkage to beech was seen in Glomeris hexasticha (Brandt), while Julus scandinavius (Latzel), Hassea flavescens (Latzel) and Brachyiulus bagnalli (Curtis)...

Intra-annual patterns of weather and daily radial growth changes of Norway spruce and their relationship in the Western Carpathian mountain region over a period of 2008-2012Original Paper

A. Leštianska, K. Merganičová, J. Merganič, K. Střelcová

J. For. Sci., 2015, 61(7):315-324 | DOI: 10.17221/24/2015-JFS  

The contribution presents the results of a 5-year (2008-2012) dendroecological research in a Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) clone forest (Northern Slovakia). Due to different climatic and soil moisture conditions in the monitored years, different seasonal courses of stem increment formation were observed using band dendrometers with continuous data recording. The lack of precipitation affected growth processes mainly during the growth culmination and at the end of summer. The multiple regression analysis of the impact of individual factors on stem circumference changes on the basis of their partial correlation coefficients revealed that the...