Journal of Forest Science, 2017 (vol. 63), issue 5

Assessing the amount of soil organic matter and soil properties in high mountain forests in Central Anatolia and the effects of climate and altitudeOriginal Paper

Ceyhun GÖL

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(5):199-205 | DOI: 10.17221/70/2016-JFS  

The objectives of this study were to determine the amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) stored within surface soils of high mountain forests and how the SOM amounts are affected by aridity and altitude in semi-arid regions of Central Anatolia. Various climate and altitude conditions of Central Anatolia were included in this study, and SOM amounts were found to be higher in the surface soils of northern Anatolia forests. Our results showed that altitude, climatic factors, and tree species were the most important factors affecting the amount of SOM and other soil properties. SOM, pH, bulk density and available water content differed significantly depending...

Application of a model for the evaluation of the "Visitor Satisfaction" in a nature reserve of South ItalyOriginal Paper

Caterina Patrizia DI FRANCO, Valeria BORSELLINO, Lorenzo LA SALA, Emanuele SCHIMMENTI

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(5):206-218 | DOI: 10.17221/104/2016-JFS  

The protected natural area represents an important resource because from it sustainable and long-lasting social and economic development processes can start. In fact, the conservation of biodiversity can help create economic values by using natural capital which, if properly valorised, can help the momentum of local sustainable development and create diffuse welfare in terms of employment and income. To such a purpose, the evaluation both of the demand by those who enjoy the services of a protected area and of the level of satisfaction that visitors draw from their experience becomes a priority. The present study aims at investigating the behaviour...

Biomass allocation, leaf gas exchange and nutrient uptake of hazelnut seedlings in response to Trichoderma harzianum and Glomus intraradices inoculationOriginal Paper

Younes ROSTAMIKIA, Masoud TABARI KOUCHAKSARAEI, Ahmad ASGHARZADEH, Ahmad RAHMANI

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(5):219-226 | DOI: 10.17221/99/2016-JFS  

Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic symbioses with the roots of 80% of plants which increase growth and nutrient uptake for the host plants. This research was conducted to determine the effect of individual Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai species on the root colonization, biomass allocation, physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of hazelnut (Corylus avellana Linnaeus) seedlings in the nursery. The results showed that both G. intraradices and T. harzianum improved biomass, physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of hazelnut seedlings...

Modelling individual tree diameter growth for Norway spruce in the Czech Republic using a generalized algebraic difference approachOriginal Paper

Ram P. SHARMA, Zdeněk VACEK, Stanislav VACEK, Václav JANSA, Miloš KUČERA

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(5):227-238 | DOI: 10.17221/135/2016-JFS  

Individual tree-based growth models precisely describe the growth of individual trees irrespective of stand complexity. These models are more useful than the stand-based growth models for effective management of forests. We developed an individual tree diameter growth model for Norway spruce (Picea abies /Linnaeus/ H. Karsten) using permanent research plot data collected from Krkonoše National Park in the Czech Republic. The model was tested against a part of the Czech National Forest Inventory (NFI) data that originated from the western region of the country. Among various models derived by a generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA),...

Comparison of the growth of fast-growing poplar and willow in two sites of Central KazakhstanOriginal Paper

Indira K. MAISSUPOVA, Dani N. SARSEKOVA, Jan WEGER, Jaroslav BUBENÍK

J. For. Sci., 2017, 63(5):239-244 | DOI: 10.17221/101/2016-JFS  

In temperate climatic conditions, plantations of poplar and willow species provide sustainable production of biomass. Short rotation coppice plantations on agricultural lands have a great potential to increase the amount of biomass available for the production of biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts. We studied and measured the growth of poplar and willow clones in two experimental research sites in Batys and Astaninskiy in the steppe zone of Astana in northern Kazakhstan. We measured tree heights, stem diameters at breast height and crown diameter. The mean height of 6-years-old trees of the "Kazakhstanskiy" hybrid poplar was 4.03 m in the Batys site,...