Journal of Forest Science, 2017 (vol. 63), issue 4

Impacts of Central Tire Inflation Systems application on forest transportation - ReviewReview

Mohammad Reza GHAFFARIYAN

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(4):153-160 | DOI: 10.17221/111/2016-JFS  

Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS) have been introduced to forestry transportation in the last 30 years to the point the forest industry is one of the biggest users of the technology (Pletts 2006). The benefits of operating with this CTIS technology mentioned in the literature include: (i) reduced road surfacing and/or base course requirements, (ii) reduced road maintenance, (iii) reduced driver fatigue and medical complaints, (iv) lower vehicle operation costs, (v) increased vehicle mobility, (vi) extended haul seasons (Bradley 1995). This paper presents a literature review of previous international...

Effect of the skid trail cross section and horizontal alignment on forest soil physical propertiesOriginal Paper

Hossein YAZARLOU, Aidin PARSAKHOO, Hashem HABASHI, Soltan Ali SOLTAUNINEJAD

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(4):161-166 | DOI: 10.17221/108/2016-JFS  

Horizontal alignment and cross section characteristics of a skid trail in a ground-based skidding system including curves, wheel ruts and cross slope can impact on the forest soil. In this study the measurement of cross section and vertical alignment of skid trail in Bahramnia forestry plan was done using a levelling instrument. Horizontal alignment of skid trail including straight routes and curves was taken using polar methods. A 3D map of skid trail was produced in AutoCAD Civil3D software. Soil bulk density was measured after sampling the soil with a core sampler. Results showed that in straight routes, soil bulk density increased by increasing...

Impact of logging intensity on stem density, basal area and biodiversity indices five years after logging in a Caspian hardwood forestOriginal Paper

Farshad KEIVAN BEHJOU, Omid GHAFFARZADEH MOLLABASHI

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(4):167-172 | DOI: 10.17221/103/2016-JFS  

The aim of the present study was to analyse the impacts of different logging intensities after five years from logging including non-logged, low (3.4 felled stems per hectare), medium (5.2 felled stems per hectare) and high (7.1 felled stems per hectare) treatments on stem density, basal area, canopy cover, and forest biodiversity indices. The study area was located in northern Iran. Data was collected on a set of 120 circular plots with 5 m radius from both non-logged and logging areas. Stem density, basal area, and percentage of canopy cover were measured. Biodiversity study was done by measuring two diversity indices including Simpson's and Shannon-Wiener's,...

Crown development of beech crop trees under different thinning regimesOriginal Paper

Igor ŠTEFANČÍK

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(4):173-181 | DOI: 10.17221/117/2016-JFS  

Crop trees are the main bearers of qualitative and value production of the stands. Although the number and production of the mentioned trees are affected by various factors, crown development by means of the thinning regime can be considered as very significant. The paper aims at the comparison of crop trees in homogeneous beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) stands, which were managed by three different management or thinning regimes for a long period (ca. 50 years): (i) heavy thinning from below (C grade according to the German forest research institutes released in 1902), (ii) Štefančík's free crown thinning, (iii)...

Influence of storage on properties of wood chip materialOriginal Paper

Iwan WÄSTERLUND, Peter NILSSON, Rolf GREF

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(4):182-191 | DOI: 10.17221/46/2016-JFS  

The use of bioenergy for district heating is usually seasonal with a high consumption during the cold periods. Therefore some type of the harvested material storage is necessary. Woody materials are usually reduced in size to chips and stored outdoors in piles or under cover. During storage the materials decompose as a result of chemical and biological processes resulting in dry matter loss. The degree and rate of decomposition primarily depend on material moisture content and temperature. In this study four piles of wood chips, each containing 240 t wet weight, were studied for moisture content and temperature development during 5.5 months of storage....

Effects of geo-ecological conditions on larch wood variations in the North European part of Russia (Arkhangelsk region)Original Paper

Nikolay A. NEVEROV, Vladimir V. BELYAEV, Zinaida B. CHISTOVA, Yuri G. KUTINOV, Vadim V. STARITSYN, Elena V. POLYAKOVA, Alexander L. MINEEV

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(4):192-197 | DOI: 10.17221/102/2015-JFS  

The present study examines the macrostructure and density of larch wood and possible influences on the productivity of larch stands. The studies were conducted in the middle and sub-tundra taiga in the Arkhangelsk region. The selected trees were of the same age and diameter at breast height. In all sample plots the average annual ring width varied from 0.68 to 0.93 mm, the average content of latewood was about 29.7-35.1% and the average wood density of these old Siberian larch trees was 572 (500-698) kg.m^-3. There were no significant differences between sample plots in terms of the latewood content, density and annual ring width of the growth...