Growth parameters of Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold and Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. plantations and their impact on understory woody plants in above-timberline mountain areas in the north of Iran

Farzam Tavankar, Hamid Rafie, Francesco Latterini, Mehrdad Nikooy, Marco Senfett, Farshad KEIVAN Behjou and Mohsen Maleki
Additional contact information
Farzam Tavankar: Department of Forestry, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal, Iran
Hamid Rafie: Department of Forestry, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal, Iran
Francesco Latterini: Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy
Mehrdad Nikooy: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara, Iran
Marco Senfett: Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy
Farshad KEIVAN Behjou: Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Mohsen Maleki: Department of Watershed Management, Khalkhal Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal, Iran

Journal of Forest Science, 2018, vol. 64, issue 10, 416-426

Abstract: We investigated the growth parameters of 20-year-old plantations of Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold and Picea abies (Linnaeus) H. Karsten and their impact on understory woody plants and we compared them with a natural stand in above-timberline mountain areas. 30 sample plots (each of 400 m2 in area) were systematically established on each site. Tree height, DBH, collar diameter, crown diameter and crown length of all trees were measured in each sample plot. The results of the diameter growth analysis of both species covered by this study showed higher numerical values in P. nigra than in P. abies. On the contrary, what was observed for data concerning height growth, showed higher numerical values in P. abies than in P. nigra. These conclusions showed that P. nigra has a lower slenderness ratio than the other species and is therefore more resistant to the adverse weather. Considering the effects on biodiversity, the planting of P. nigra showed a significant increase in density and species richness of woody plants while it decreased the diversity and evenness compared to the natural stands and plantations of P. abies.

Keywords: ecotone; slenderness ratio; tree species importance value; woody species diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/84/2018-JFS.html (text/html)
http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/84/2018-JFS.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:84-2018-jfs

DOI: 10.17221/84/2018-JFS

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Forest Science is currently edited by Mgr. Ilona Procházková

More articles in Journal of Forest Science from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().