Accumulation of fine woody debris in the stem exclusion phase in mixed beech (Fagus orientlais Lipsky) stands

Moridi, Morteza; Malakshahi, Mehrdad; Etemad, Vahid; Sefidi, Kiuomars

Accumulation of fine woody debris in the stem exclusion phase in mixed beech (Fagus orientlais Lipsky) stands

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

¹ M.Sc. student of forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj

² Assistance professor, Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj

³ Assistance professor, Faculty of Agriculture Technology and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh-e-Ardabili, Ardabil

Abstract

Fine woody debris (FWD) is a characteristic feature of forest ecosystems. The quantification of FWD amount in forest stands is necessary in forest management. Stem exclusion is one of the most important phases in stand development. This research was carried out in a relatively undisturbed stands in No. 319 compartment, Gorazbon district of Kheyroud Forest in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran to investigate the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of FWD in stem exclusion phase. Three one hectare study sites were selected in the phase and all coarse woody debris (>10 cm diameter) properties were recorded. In every sites five quadrates laid out to measure the fine woody debris. Length, diameter, shape and decay class of all woody debris with diameter smaller than 10 cm were recorded. Results showed that beech was the most frequent (54%) constituent in the stand dead wood pool. Hornbeam and other accompanying species encompass 42 and 4 percent of dead wood frequency, respectively. Moreover, the majority of the measured FWD was in 1-5 cm and 5-10 cm diameter classes with 62.5% and 37.5% respectively. The mean and accumulative of dead volume in the study sites was 15.3 and 45.9 m³ ha^-1 respectively. In this phase no FWD in the advance decaying class was recorded.

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