Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Zeidler Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Wood Processing, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Variation of wood density in Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.) grown in the Czech Republic Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the wood density of Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.), an introduced species in the Czech Republic. Sample trees coming from a Czech site were tested for basic wood density and oven-dry density according to Czech national standards. Four sections were taken from each tree to evaluate the variability of wood density along the stem height and along the stem radius. The mean values for the basic density and the oven-dry density were 544 kg.m-3 and 627 kg.m-3, respectively. The results show that the highest density can be found in the bottom part of the tree, followed by a decline with the increasing height of the stem. For the radial direction from the pith to the bark, the pattern of density variability was more complex, reaching its highest value close to the cambium. Practically no correlation between annual ring width and density values was found out. Keywords: Corylus colurna L., wood, density, variability Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 145-151 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/73/2011-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/73/2011-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201204-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:4:id:73-2011-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Hristovski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Institute of Biology, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Author-Name: Lj. Melovski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Institute of Biology, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Author-Name: M. Šušlevska Author-Workplace-Name: Farmahem, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Author-Name: Lj. Grupče Author-Workplace-Name: Macedonian Ecological Society, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Title: Belowground biomass and its annual increment in a montane beech forest in Mavrovo National Park, north-west Macedonia Abstract: The aim of this paper is to present the results of the investigation on belowground biomass and its annual increment in a beech ecosystem (Calamintho grandiflorae-Fagetum) in Mavrovo National Park, Republic of Macedonia. Belowground biomass was estimated in three layers of the ecosystem (tree, shrub and herb layers) for seven years during the period 1997-2005. Allometric regressions were established for the relationship of root biomass from volume index (D2H, diameter squared × height) on a sample of 10 model trees and 13 model shrubs of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Fine root biomass of trees and shrubs was estimated in soil samples to a depth of 145 cm and divided into live and dead fine roots and subdivided into thickness classes. Belowground biomass of the herb layer was assessed in 20 herb species. It was estimated that the total belowground biomass in the ecosystem was 57.75 .ha-1. The contribution of shrub and herb layers was insignificant (less than 0.2%). Biomass of the live fine roots was 10.16 t.ha-1, i.e. 18% of the total belowground biomass. Annual increment of trees and shrubs was 1.03 t.ha-1.y-1 and 4.6 kg.ha-1.y-1, respectively. Keywords: root biomass, coarse roots, fine roots, trees, shrubs, beech ecosystem Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 152-164 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/131/2010-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/131/2010-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201204-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:4:id:131-2010-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Akbarimehr Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara, Iran Author-Name: R. Naghdi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Somehsara, Iran Title: Reducing erosion from forest roads and skid trails by management practices Abstract: A road network in forest lands provides easy access to forest resources for extraction, regeneration, protection and recreation activities. Erosion from forest roads and skid trails is a major concern in forest management due to the capability to cause adverse environmental effects. The objective of this paper is to introduce two methods for reducing erosion on forest roads and skid trails: water diversion and vegetation cover. Factors affecting erosion on forest roads and skid trails are climate, quality of forest road surfacing material, traffic, slope and vegetation cover. There are several management practices to mitigate the impact of logging and forest road and skid trail construction on stream water quality. Sediments delivered to streams from roads and skid trails lead to a number of dramatic effects on water quality and aquatic life. These management practices were found to be effective in controlling and reducing the runoff volume and soil erosion. Therefore, management and maintenance of forest roads and skid trails are essential elements to mitigate erosion. Keywords: water diversion, vegetation cover, erosion, skid trails, management practices, sediment delivery, environmental effects, stream water Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 165-169 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/136/2010-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/136/2010-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201204-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:4:id:136-2010-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Sayad Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry Department, Natural Resources Faculty, Behbahan University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran Author-Name: S.M. Hosseini Author-Workplace-Name: Natural Resources Faculty, Tarbait Modares University, Noor, Iran Author-Name: V. Hosseini Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural and Natural Resources Faculty, Kurdistan University, Sannandaj, Iran Author-Name: M.-H. Salehe-Shooshtari Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Institute of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran Title: Soil macrofauna in relation to soil and leaf litter properties in tree plantations Abstract: Soil communities exert strong influences on the processing of organic matter and nutrients. Plantations of trees, especially of nitrogen fixing ones, may affect the soil macrofauna through litter quality and quantity. This study was conducted in a randomized block design with three blocks consisting of Populus euphratica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus microtheca, Acacia farnesiana, Acacia salicina, Acacia saligna, Acacia stenophylla and Dalbergia sissoo monoculture plantations that were established in 1992. Soils and soil macrofauna were sampled in November 2006. Leaf litterfall was collected from November 2006 to November 2007 at bi-weekly intervals. Macroinvertebrate abundance and biomass were consistently higher in A. salicina plantations than in the others, whereas they were lowest in E. camaldulensis. Tree species and nitrogen fixing trees significantly influenced the soil macrofauna richness. The results suggest that the earthworm distribution is regulated by leaf litter quality (Ca, C and N) whereas the macrofauna richness is regulated by leaf litter mass, soil organic carbon and leaf litter Mg. Totally, it was revealed that the tree species clearly affected macrofauna whereas nitrogen fixation did not. Keywords: plantation, tree influence on soil, soil macrofauna, leaf litter properties, nitrogen-fixing tree Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 170-180 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/58/2011-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/58/2011-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201204-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:4:id:58-2011-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Martiník Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: O. Mauer Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Snow damage to birch stands in Northern Moravia Abstract: The condition and snow damage to stands dominated by birch were studied in the area of interest in Northern Moravia. Based on basal area, the share of birch ranged from 68 to 88%. The stands came to existence on fertile sites through natural regeneration and exhibited growth at a level of the best site classes for the Czech Republic. The most severe snow damage to the stands was recorded at the upper stand height of 8-15 m. The extent of damage in the analyzed stands amounted to 67-95% of all trees. The unambiguously predominant type of damage was bending while breakages were recorded only in up to 4% of trees. Slenderness ratios of intact trees differed according to the age (height) of stands. The highest values of about 180 were observed in the youngest, ca 5-years-old and about 5 m high stand. Slenderness ratio values of intact trees in a 17-m high stand ranged about 100. The analyzed stands did not show any differences in the slenderness ratio values between intact and damaged trees. Lower values of the ratio for solitary trees (ca 130) in a 5-years-old stand were accompanied by markedly longer crowns (80% of stem) as compared with trees growing in the stand (60% of stem). Differences in the root system architecture were revealed between intact and damaged trees within a stand of about 9 m in height. Keywords: birch, fertile sites, growth, natural regeneration, snow damage, slenderness ratio, root system Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 181-192 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 DOI: 10.17221/48/2011-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/48/2011-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201204-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:58:y:2012:i:4:id:48-2011-JFS