Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S.A. Hosseini Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran Author-Name: M.E. Khalili Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran Author-Name: M. Pourmajidian Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran Author-Name: A. Fallah Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran Author-Name: A. Parsakhoo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran Title: Relationship between forest road length and village development during three decades in Neka-Zalemrood forest Abstract: Forest roads are built to facilitate the transport of personnel and wood, and so to promote village development. In this study 18 development indices of village in relation to increasing forest road density were evaluated during three decades for the villages of Aryam, Estakhrposht, Hosein Abad, Daram, Sarm and Darzikola in Neka-Zalemrood forest. According to the National Population and Housing Census of Iran (NPHCI), the rank of zero was considered for cases when a village did not have a specific facility and the rank of one was considered for cases when a village had a specific facility and service. The total length of forest roads was measured on maps from the years 1986, 1996 and 2006. Results showed that the total length of built roads at the end of 1986, 1996 and 2006 was 7, 25 and 36 km, respectively. Index of development in the village of Estakhrposht and Daram was positive at the end of the second decade whereas the villages of Estakhrposht, Daram, Aryam and Darzikola with ranks of 1.494; 0.053; 0.293 and 0.053 had positive development index in the third decade. The index of development in other villages was still negative at the end of 2006. The villages of Sarm and Daram enjoyed 5 and 7 services and facilities, respectively, in the second decade. So, their development index increased from -0.3 to 0.06 for Sarm and from -0.3 to 0.17 for Daram. 7.5 km of forest roads in the village of Estakhrposht were asphalted in the third decade (1996-2006) and the village of Estakhrposht enjoyed 18 development indices in total. Keywords: road length, village, development indices, Neka-Zalemrood forest (Iran) Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 1-7 Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/44/2010-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/44/2010-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201201-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:1:id:44-2010-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: O. Dini-Papanastasi Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Vassilika, Thessaloniki, Greece Author-Name: P. Kostopoulou Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Vassilika, Thessaloniki, Greece Author-Name: K. Radoglou Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Vassilika, Thessaloniki, Greece Title: Effects of seed origin, growing medium and mini-plug density on early growth and quality of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.]) seedlings Abstract: The objective of this study was to identify optimal growing conditions for the production of high-quality mini-plug seedlings of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia [L.].). Two seed origins (Greek and Hungarian), two growing media (enriched peat and stabilized medium) and four mini-plug densities (975; 1,460; 1,820 and 3,500 mini-plugs.m-2) were tested in two phases, in growth chambers and in a nursery after transplanting the mini-plugs into larger containers. Measurements included seedling survival, growth traits (root length, shoot height, leaf area, root dry mass, shoot dry mass, root/shoot ratio) and root growth potential (RGP). In addition, the ratio of variable to maximal fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΔF/F'm) were measured. It was found that growing medium produced significant effects mainly in the first phase and seed origin in the second phase while mini-plug density was important in both phases. The Fv/Fm ratio was found to be significantly affected by growing medium while the effective quantum yield was influenced by density. Early survival of seedlings was closely correlated with fluorescence and growth traits (particularly with plant height) suggesting that these parameters might be useful for the grading of black locust seedlings prior to transplanting. Keywords: mini-plug seedlings, growth traits, survival, mini-plug transplants, forest restoration Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 8-20 Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/46/2011-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/46/2011-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201201-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:1:id:46-2011-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: N. Gilanipoor Author-Workplace-Name: Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: A. Najafi Author-Workplace-Name: Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: S.M. Heshmat Alvaezin Author-Workplace-Name: Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Title: Productivity and cost of farm tractor skidding Abstract: In this study, productivity rate and operation cost of farm tractor were evaluated in a mountainous natural forest. Data for the study came from a detailed time study in the Research and Educational Forest of Tarbiat Modares University (REFTMU) and was used to develop a multiple linear regression model to predict the skidding cycle time. The results showed that effective independent variables of skidding time were skidding distance and slope of skid trail (P = 0.01). Average productivity rate ranged from 2.43 to 2.60 m2.h-1. Total time and effective time, respectively. Total cost of the system was 10.24 USD.h-1 whereas 4.58% of the cost of skidding resulted from personal delay. The cost and productivity resulting from this study emphasized the importance for foresters to consider a farm tractor when designing skidding operations in young stands or prescribing a combination of two machines in mature stands. Keywords: skidding operation, continuous time study, regression model, forest system efficiency, Iranian forest Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 21-26 Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/4804-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4804-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201201-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:1:id:4804-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Nárovec Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute Jíloviště-Strnady (Prague), Forest Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Nárovcová Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry and Game Management Research Institute Jíloviště-Strnady (Prague), Forest Research Station, Opočno, Czech Republic Title: Needle longevity as a criterion of response to a climatic fluctuation (so called heat wave) in Scots pine populations at early phases of ontogeny Abstract: The paper presents results of an assessment of needle age classes in Scots pine partial populations in the period of three and five years after outplanting in a lowland site in relation to conditions created by climatic elements. The method is based on Skuhravý's (1987) description when the state of needle age classes of the third whorl (from the apex) is evaluated just once. Five-year summary of meteorological data was assessed according to the criteria of determination of periods of heat waves and dry spells. Differences in numbers of living needle age classes in the groups of Scots pine populations in the period of three and five years after their outplanting in permanent lowland sites proved the highest total number of living needle classes in the group of local lowland populations. On the contrary, the lowest total number of living needle classes was found out in the group of mountain populations. Critical climatic periods are overlaps of heat waves and dry spells that illustrate the complexity of moisture and temperature conditions of lowland sites. Although the Scots pine is a xerophytic species, it responded to the cumulation of adverse factors by accelerated needle senescence. Its physiological response to heat and dry stress consists in needle shedding, i.e. reduction in the assimilating area. As mountain populations are not usually exposed to heat waves, the impact of this phenomenon on them was the highest. On the other hand, the local (lowland) populations carrying information on the patterns of local climate from the reproduction period do not undergo any marked reduction in needle age classes. Keywords: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), number of needle age classes, needle retention, climatic episode of heat wave Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 27-34 Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/4805-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4805-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201201-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:1:id:4805-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Janík Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Author-Name: E. Bublinec Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Education, Catholic University at Ružomberok, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Dubová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Zvolen, Slovak Republic Title: Sulphate concentration and S-SO42 - flux in soil solutions in the West Carpathians Mountains on an example of submontane beech forest stand Abstract: The paper presents the evaluation of data on precipitation totals and on SO42 -concentrations and S-SO42 - fluxes in lysimetric waters in a submontane beech stand. The records cover continually a 19-year period. The site is situated in the Kremnické vrchy Mountains, belonging to the West Carpathians Mountains. The material was sampled on two plots. The first had been clear cut immediately before the research started (1989), the second was covered with the original forest stand. In total, the highest SO42 - concentrations on the open plot were measured four years after the intervention (1993) at the soil depth of 0.25 m (40.50 mg.l-1). The lowest values were recorded in 1989 on the control plot at the soil depth of 0.25 m (4.54 mg.l-1). The sulphate sulphur deposition was the highest in 1995 in the surface humus layer on the open plot (51.8 kg.ha-1.year-1). A very significant influence of precipitation totals on sulphur amounts deposited in the particular soil horizons was also confirmed. No interannual differences in SO42 - concentration and S-SO42 - fluxwere proved. Keywords: sulphate concentrations, soil water, submontane beech forest, West Carpathians Mts Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 35-44 Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/122/2010-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/122/2010-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201201-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:1:id:122-2010-JFS