Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ceyhun GÖL Title: Assessing the amount of soil organic matter and soil properties in high mountain forests in Central Anatolia and the effects of climate and altitude Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine the amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) stored within surface soils of high mountain forests and how the SOM amounts are affected by aridity and altitude in semi-arid regions of Central Anatolia. Various climate and altitude conditions of Central Anatolia were included in this study, and SOM amounts were found to be higher in the surface soils of northern Anatolia forests. Our results showed that altitude, climatic factors, and tree species were the most important factors affecting the amount of SOM and other soil properties. SOM, pH, bulk density and available water content differed significantly depending on the altitude and climatic factors in the study areas. As the altitude increased in semi-arid regions, the aridity decreased and the amount of SOM increased. Keywords: forest soil, topographic conditions, climate model, semi-arid regions, Turkey Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 199-205 Volume: 63 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/70/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/70/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201705-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:5:id:70-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Caterina Patrizia DI FRANCO Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy Author-Name: Valeria BORSELLINO Author-Name: Lorenzo LA SALA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy Author-Name: Emanuele SCHIMMENTI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy Title: Application of a model for the evaluation of the "Visitor Satisfaction" in a nature reserve of South Italy Abstract: The protected natural area represents an important resource because from it sustainable and long-lasting social and economic development processes can start. In fact, the conservation of biodiversity can help create economic values by using natural capital which, if properly valorised, can help the momentum of local sustainable development and create diffuse welfare in terms of employment and income. To such a purpose, the evaluation both of the demand by those who enjoy the services of a protected area and of the level of satisfaction that visitors draw from their experience becomes a priority. The present study aims at investigating the behaviour and the preferences of the visitors to a protected natural area by means of the application of a "Visitor Satisfaction" model, in order to provide the managing institution and the local stakeholders with a method for the evaluation of the services offered, and in particular those services that directly concern the recreational function. The model has been implemented in the Riserva Naturale Orientata "Foce del Fiume Belice e dune limitrofe", which is part of the provinces of Agrigento and Trapani in the Region of Sicilia (Sicily, South Italy). Our hope is that it can be extended to other protected areas. Keywords: protected areas, recreational services, local development, assessment, preferences, Sicily Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 206-218 Volume: 63 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/104/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/104/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201705-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:5:id:104-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Younes ROSTAMIKIA Author-Workplace-Name: Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ardabil, Iran Author-Name: Masoud TABARI KOUCHAKSARAEI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: Ahmad ASGHARZADEH Author-Workplace-Name: Soil and Water Research Institute, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: Ahmad RAHMANI Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran Title: Biomass allocation, leaf gas exchange and nutrient uptake of hazelnut seedlings in response to Trichoderma harzianum and Glomus intraradices inoculation Abstract: Mycorrhizal fungi form mutualistic symbioses with the roots of 80% of plants which increase growth and nutrient uptake for the host plants. This research was conducted to determine the effect of individual Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith and Trichoderma harzianum Rifai species on the root colonization, biomass allocation, physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of hazelnut (Corylus avellana Linnaeus) seedlings in the nursery. The results showed that both G. intraradices and T. harzianum improved biomass, physiological characteristics and nutrient uptake of hazelnut seedlings as well as simultaneous root colonization. However, the growth rate for G. intraradices treatment was significantly higher than that for T. harzianum treatment. The highest leaf dry mass (2.66 g), root dry mass (3.39 g), root volume (11.31 cm3), total plant dry weight (11.20 g) were detected in seedlings inoculated with G. intraradices. Inoculation with G. intraradices and T. harzianum increased net photosynthesis (64 and 26%), stomatal conductance (66.1 and 31.4%) and water use efficiency (50 and 22%). Both G. intraradices and T. harzianum showed increased nutrient accumulation. The G. intraradices treatment resulted in the most efficient nutrient absorption with increases of 58.4% (N), 85.2% (P) and 83.2% (K) in plants. It can be deduced that although G. intraradices in comparison with T. harzianum more favourably affected the growth and leaf gas exchange as well as nutrient uptake of hazelnut seedlings, it can be suggested that the inoculation of hazelnut roots with both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi is a proper measure to produce the healthy and strong seedlings of this species in the nursery. Keywords: Corylus avellana, fungi, growth rate, leaf nutrients, nursery, stomatal conductance Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 219-226 Volume: 63 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/99/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/99/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201705-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:5:id:99-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ram P. SHARMA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Zdeněk VACEK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Stanislav VACEK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Václav JANSA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nature Conservation, Krkonoše Mountains National Park Administration, Vrchlabí, Czech Republic Author-Name: Miloš KUČERA Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Management Institute, Brandýs nad Labem, Czech Republic Title: Modelling individual tree diameter growth for Norway spruce in the Czech Republic using a generalized algebraic difference approach Abstract: Individual tree-based growth models precisely describe the growth of individual trees irrespective of stand complexity. These models are more useful than the stand-based growth models for effective management of forests. We developed an individual tree diameter growth model for Norway spruce (Picea abies /Linnaeus/ H. Karsten) using permanent research plot data collected from Krkonoše National Park in the Czech Republic. The model was tested against a part of the Czech National Forest Inventory (NFI) data that originated from the western region of the country. Among various models derived by a generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA), the GADA model derived from the Chapman-Richards function best suited to our data. Tree-specific parameters unique to each growth series, which describe tree-specific growth conditions, were estimated simultaneously with global parameters common to all growth series using the iterative nested regressions. The model described most of the variations in diameter growth for model calibration data (R2adj = 0.9901, RMSE = 0.5962), leaving no significant trends in the residuals. A test against NFI data also confirms that the model is precise enough for predictions of diameter growth for ranges of site quality, tree size, age, and growth condition. The model also possesses biologically desirable properties because it produces the curves with growth rates and asymptotes that increase with increasing site quality. The GADA model is path-invariant and therefore applicable for both forward and backward predictions, meaning that the model can precisely predict diameter growth at any past ages of the trees. Keywords: base-age invariant approach, Chapman-Richards function, global parameters, tree-specific parameters, iterative nested regression, National Forest Inventory Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 227-238 Volume: 63 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/135/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/135/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201705-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:5:id:135-2016-JFS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Indira K. MAISSUPOVA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Resources and Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Author-Name: Dani N. SARSEKOVA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forest Resources and Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University, Astana, Kazakhstan Author-Name: Jan WEGER Author-Workplace-Name: Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening (RILOG), Průhonice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jaroslav BUBENÍK Author-Workplace-Name: Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening (RILOG), Průhonice, Czech Republic Title: Comparison of the growth of fast-growing poplar and willow in two sites of Central Kazakhstan Abstract: In temperate climatic conditions, plantations of poplar and willow species provide sustainable production of biomass. Short rotation coppice plantations on agricultural lands have a great potential to increase the amount of biomass available for the production of biofuels, bioenergy and bioproducts. We studied and measured the growth of poplar and willow clones in two experimental research sites in Batys and Astaninskiy in the steppe zone of Astana in northern Kazakhstan. We measured tree heights, stem diameters at breast height and crown diameter. The mean height of 6-years-old trees of the "Kazakhstanskiy" hybrid poplar was 4.03 m in the Batys site, which is 1.6 m less than the height of poplars from the Astaninskiy experimental site that were measured in autumn. The results of this study show different reactions of selected clones/cultivars of poplar and willow to climatic conditions of northern Kazakhstan as well as their usability for biomass production in plantations under limiting hydrological conditions. Keywords: short rotation coppice, Salicaceae, Central Asia, plantation, biometric and soil parameters Journal: Journal of Forest Science Pages: 239-244 Volume: 63 Issue: 5 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/101/2016-JFS File-URL: http://jfs.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/101/2016-JFS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/jfs-201705-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnljfs:v:63:y:2017:i:5:id:101-2016-JFS