Journal of Forest Science, 2019 (vol. 65), issue 7

Soil properties and carbon sequestration in Persian oak (Quercus brantii var. persica) forests, IranOriginal Paper

Ali Mahdavi, Azadeh Maleki, Masoud Bazgir

J. For. Sci., 2019, 65(7):247-255 | DOI: 10.17221/140/2018-JFS  

One of the important issues both in the political discussion about climate change and in forest ecosystem research is carbon sequestration. In this paper, we estimated soil carbon sequestration (SCS) in two Persian oak forest stands of different origin (seed and coppice). Soil samples were taken at two soil depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm) and locations (under the tree crown and open area) in each oak stand. Results showed that surface layers (0-15 cm) had the highest soil carbon sequestration ranging from 41.2 t.ha-1 to 47.9 t.ha-1 for both oak forests. The total SCS was higher (between 79.5 and 89.07 t.ha-1) in open areas of the two forest stands than...

State of beech pole stands established at the clear-cut and in the underplantingOriginal Paper

Vilém Podrázský, Martin Baláš, Rostislav Linda, Ota Křivohlavý

J. For. Sci., 2019, 65(7):256-262 | DOI: 10.17221/59/2019-JFS  

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) represents the major climax tree species in the forests of Central Europe growing at many sites. The reintroduction of this species is an important silvicultural topic because of stability and diversity of forest ecosystems and vitality of forest soils in this region. The present study documents the growth, quality of growth and vitality of beech plantations in two positions at the same site (580 m a.s.l., forest habitat type 5K8 - acid fir-beech site, soil type Cambisol): underplantings at 50% of the light intensity of open space and clear-cut. Plantations were established in 1994 by bare-root plants on the same...

The effect of spruce plantation density on resilience of mixed forests in the Perm KraiOriginal Paper

Ludmila A. Ivanchina, Sergei V. Zalesov

J. For. Sci., 2019, 65(7):263-271 | DOI: 10.17221/14/2019-JFS  

Over the course of the last few decades, many countries across the globe have experienced mass desiccation of spruce plantations. The subject of our research was the spruce forests of the Russian Perm Krai's mixed forest zone. Spruce is a shade-tolerant tree species and low plantation density may adversely affect the spruce health. The aim of this research is to establish how influential the spruce stand density is on causing desiccation in mixed zones in the Perm Krai. The results of an on-site survey which had recorded spruce desiccation in 2017 were analysed. Within the boundaries of the aforementioned forest areas, 2017 saw the desiccation of spruce...

Impact of long and short-term conservation periods on structure of English yew (Taxus baccata L.) in Arasbaran forests, IranOriginal Paper

Sajad Ghanbari, Kiomars Sefidi, Matthew M. Aghai

J. For. Sci., 2019, 65(7):272-282 | DOI: 10.17221/45/2019-JFS  

Yew (Taxus baccata L.) is one of the most important and threatened tree species in the Arasbaran region of northwestern Iran. To understand the natural stand structure of yew forests to inform forest management, we assessed the structural characteristics and composition of yew communities using the nearest neighbour and full callipering method at three sites with different conservation histories. Within a one-hectare sampling area, tree species identity, diameter, height, and crown diameter were measured. In each of these sampling areas, 56 sample points were surveyed in a 25 m × 25 m grid for tree species identity, diameter, height, and distance...

Effect of the root biotechnical characteristics of Alnus subcordata, Paulownia fortunei and Populus deltoides on the soil mechanicsOriginal Paper

Ali Akbar Mohammad Ali Pourmalekshah, Mohamad Hadi Moayeri, Aidin Parsakhoo

J. For. Sci., 2019, 65(7):283-290 | DOI: 10.17221/55/2019-JFS  

The effect of root reinforcement depends on the biotechnical characteristics of the root system including the tensile strength of individual roots, the root density and the distribution of the root system in the soil. This research was conducted in the Hyrcanian forest in Iran, where shallow landslides are frequent due to road construction. The effect of the root biotechnical characteristics of Alnus subcordata, Paulownia fortunei and Populus deltoides each one in 2-, 10- and 15-year-old plantations was assessed. The profile trenching method was used in this study to obtain the root area ratio of individual species by counting the number of roots and...