Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mohammad Reza GHAFFARIYAN Title: Impacts of Central Tire Inflation Systems application on forest transportation - Review Abstract: Central Tire Inflation Systems (CTIS) have been introduced to forestry transportation in the last 30 years to the point the forest industry is one of the biggest users of the technology (Pletts 2006). The benefits of operating with this CTIS technology mentioned in the literature include: (i) reduced road surfacing and/or base course requirements, (ii) reduced road maintenance, (iii) reduced driver fatigue and medical complaints, (iv) lower vehicle operation costs, (v) increased vehicle mobility, (vi) extended haul seasons (Bradley 1995). This paper presents a literature review of previous international studies on the impacts of CTIS. This document can assist the forest industry and research users to gain basic information on this transportation technology. Keywords: timber transportation, road maintenance, transportation cost, vehicle mobility, fuel consumption, safety Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 153-160 Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/111/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/111/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201704-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:4:id:111-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hossein YAZARLOU Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Author-Name: Aidin PARSAKHOO Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Author-Name: Hashem HABASHI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Author-Name: Soltan Ali SOLTAUNINEJAD Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forest Science, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran Title: Effect of the skid trail cross section and horizontal alignment on forest soil physical properties Abstract: Horizontal alignment and cross section characteristics of a skid trail in a ground-based skidding system including curves, wheel ruts and cross slope can impact on the forest soil. In this study the measurement of cross section and vertical alignment of skid trail in Bahramnia forestry plan was done using a levelling instrument. Horizontal alignment of skid trail including straight routes and curves was taken using polar methods. A 3D map of skid trail was produced in AutoCAD Civil3D software. Soil bulk density was measured after sampling the soil with a core sampler. Results showed that in straight routes, soil bulk density increased by increasing the cross slope of skid trail. Moreover, soil porosity decreased with the increasing cross slope. There was a significant difference between cross slopes in soil moisture. On curves, maximum bulk density occurred when the cross slope was 10%. Findings about soil porosity and moisture on curves of skid trails were similar to those of straight routes. Based on our findings, soil bulk density in wheel ruts was significantly lower than that in the middle part of skid trail. Soil bulk density in the silty soil texture of studied skid trails was a little more than ideal bulk density, so it cannot affect and restrict root growth. Keywords: soil bulk density, ground-based skidding, cross slope, Civil3D software, Bahramnia forest Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 161-166 Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/108/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/108/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201704-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:4:id:108-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Farshad KEIVAN BEHJOU Author-Name: Omid GHAFFARZADEH MOLLABASHI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran Title: Impact of logging intensity on stem density, basal area and biodiversity indices five years after logging in a Caspian hardwood forest Abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyse the impacts of different logging intensities after five years from logging including non-logged, low (3.4 felled stems per hectare), medium (5.2 felled stems per hectare) and high (7.1 felled stems per hectare) treatments on stem density, basal area, canopy cover, and forest biodiversity indices. The study area was located in northern Iran. Data was collected on a set of 120 circular plots with 5 m radius from both non-logged and logging areas. Stem density, basal area, and percentage of canopy cover were measured. Biodiversity study was done by measuring two diversity indices including Simpson's and Shannon-Wiener's, two richness indices including Margalef's and Menhinick's and two evenness indices including Pielou's and Hill's indices. The results indicated that the treatment with the medium logging intensity was found to cause the highest amount of positive effects on stem density, basal area, and biodiversity indices. It is concluded that harvesting intensity should be limited to a medium level (approximately 5 felled trees per hectare) during each logging operation to improve forest biodiversity indices. Keywords: harvesting intensity, forest biodiversity, northern Iran Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 167-172 Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/103/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/103/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201704-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:4:id:103-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Igor ŠTEFANČÍK Title: Crown development of beech crop trees under different thinning regimes Abstract: Crop trees are the main bearers of qualitative and value production of the stands. Although the number and production of the mentioned trees are affected by various factors, crown development by means of the thinning regime can be considered as very significant. The paper aims at the comparison of crop trees in homogeneous beech (Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus) stands, which were managed by three different management or thinning regimes for a long period (ca. 50 years): (i) heavy thinning from below (C grade according to the German forest research institutes released in 1902), (ii) Štefančík's free crown thinning, (iii) without interventions (control). Selection of crop trees was carried out at the beginning of research using the best stem quality, diameter and height dimension and regular spacing). In this paper only the last assessment of crop trees aged from 83 to 105 years including 23 subplots established across the Slovakian territory was analysed. The highest number of crop trees has been reached in forests where Štefančík's free crown thinning was applied. The proportion of these trees on subplots with the mentioned type of crown thinning was 61% out of the basal area at stand age of 100 years. A much lower proportion was found on subplots managed by thinning from below (32%) and on control ones (20%). Crown parameters (crown width, crown ratio, crown projection area, crown surface area and volume) showed the most appropriate values on subplots where Štefančík's free crown thinning was used. It was: 8.36 m (crown width), 0.50 (crown ratio), 56.84 m2 (crown projection area), 289.56 m2 (crown surface area), and 481.75 m3 (volume). Based on the results obtained after almost 50 years of systematic investigations, the mentioned thinning method was recommended for beech forests. Keywords: target trees, crown parameters, Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus, tending Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 173-181 Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/117/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/117/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201704-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:4:id:117-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Iwan WÄSTERLUND Author-Workplace-Name: Olasgarden Forest & Roads, Sävar, Sweden Author-Name: Peter NILSSON Author-Workplace-Name: Skellefteå, Sweden Author-Name: Rolf GREF Author-Workplace-Name: Umeå, Sweden Title: Influence of storage on properties of wood chip material Abstract: The use of bioenergy for district heating is usually seasonal with a high consumption during the cold periods. Therefore some type of the harvested material storage is necessary. Woody materials are usually reduced in size to chips and stored outdoors in piles or under cover. During storage the materials decompose as a result of chemical and biological processes resulting in dry matter loss. The degree and rate of decomposition primarily depend on material moisture content and temperature. In this study four piles of wood chips, each containing 240 t wet weight, were studied for moisture content and temperature development during 5.5 months of storage. Two piles were stacked normally and two compacted at 50 to 60 kPa pressures. Additionally, a ventilating tarp, TopTex, was used to test the effect of covering the material. Nylon net bags with the same chip material were placed at different positions in the piles for moisture content determination. The volume of three piles shrunk between 3 and 6% but the volume of the uncovered compacted pile shrunk almost 6%. The low shrinkage indicated that material losses in this study were small. The temperature development in all piles followed a similar pattern but with maximum temperatures at different positions, top for the uncompacted pile and innermost for the compacted one. The ventilation tarp on the piles had only a minor effect on the temperature development. Moisture content decreased but the results are uncertain due to problems with the scale precision. Net bag analyses showed that the lowest moisture loss occurred in the middle of the uncovered compacted pile but the values only refer to their specific position in the pile. Keywords: energy, measurements of moisture Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 182-191 Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/46/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/46/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201704-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:4:id:46-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Nikolay A. NEVEROV Author-Name: Vladimir V. BELYAEV Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia Author-Name: Zinaida B. CHISTOVA Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia Author-Name: Yuri G. KUTINOV Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia Author-Name: Vadim V. STARITSYN Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia Author-Name: Elena V. POLYAKOVA Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia Author-Name: Alexander L. MINEEV Author-Workplace-Name: Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia Title: Effects of geo-ecological conditions on larch wood variations in the North European part of Russia (Arkhangelsk region) Abstract: The present study examines the macrostructure and density of larch wood and possible influences on the productivity of larch stands. The studies were conducted in the middle and sub-tundra taiga in the Arkhangelsk region. The selected trees were of the same age and diameter at breast height. In all sample plots the average annual ring width varied from 0.68 to 0.93 mm, the average content of latewood was about 29.7-35.1% and the average wood density of these old Siberian larch trees was 572 (500-698) kg.m-3. There were no significant differences between sample plots in terms of the latewood content, density and annual ring width of the growth rings. Wood macrostructure of larch wood has the same values in forests growing in the sub-tundra and middle taiga. A possible explanation for this is the location of these stands in the karst landscape, which possesses abundant mineral nutrition. Geological factors are surpassing the influence of climatic factors and contribute to the formation of productive larch stands in the sub-tundra taiga in the European part of Russia. Keywords: Larix sibirica, wood density, latewood content, ring width Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 192-197 Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/102/2015-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/102/2015-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201704-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:4:id:102-2015-JFS