Evaluation of competition and structural characteristics of trees and sprout clump crown in Iranian oak stands (Quercus brantii Lindl Var.persica) Zagros forests (case study of Kalaje forests, Kermanshah province)

Soleymani, Niknam; Abrari Vajari, Kambiz; Pourreza, Morteza

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Volume 12, Issue 25 (3-2025)

PEC 2025, 12(25): 1-17

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Evaluation of competition and structural characteristics of trees and sprout clump crown in Iranian oak stands (Quercus brantii Lindl Var.persica) Zagros forests (case study of Kalaje forests, Kermanshah province)

Niknam Soleymani ^*

, Kambiz Abrari Vajari²

, Morteza Pourreza³

Department of Forestry, University of Lorestan, Iran, Department of Forestry, University of Lorestan, Iran , niknamsolymani@gmail.com
2- Department of Forestry, University of Lorestan, Iran
3- Department of Forestry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract: (1827 Views)

Competition is one of the most important issues in ecology, representing an unknown mechanism through which plants influence each other, leading to changes in the structural characteristics and dynamics of forests. To analyze competition values and structural characteristics of Iranian oak stands in the protected area of Kalaje (Kermanshah), three one-hectare plots were randomly selected in each of the high stand, coppice stand, and coppice-high stand. First, structural characteristics such as species name, growth form, number of sprouts, diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, dominant height of sprout clumps, and two perpendicular crown diameters were recorded. Then, to investigate the effects of competition, 10 target and adjacent trees with the minimum distance between them were selected in each sample plot, and all their structural features were recorded. The results showed that, on average, there are 123.33 trees in the high stand, 129 in the coppice-high stand, and 127 in the coppice stand. Additionally, all structural features studied in the stands of the region showed significant differences, indicating the distinct nature and form of the stands. The correlation study of the Hegyi index with structural features in the coppice stand revealed that none of the investigated parameters correlated with the Hegyi index. However, in the high stand, all studied parameters correlated with the competition index (P < 0.01), and in the coppice-high stand, except for DBH and the number of sprouts, all other structural parameters correlated with the index (P < 0.01). The results of this research highlight the need for a separate planning system for protection, restoration, and silvicultural operations in Zagros forests, based on the vegetation forms of each region.

Article number: 1

Keywords: Competition, Heygi distance index, Zagros, Structural features

Full-Text [PDF 1457 kb] (637 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2023/11/22 | Accepted: 2024/10/16 | Published: 2025/04/22

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Soleymani N, Abrari Vajari K, Pourreza M. Evaluation of competition and structural characteristics of trees and sprout clump crown in Iranian oak stands (Quercus brantii Lindl Var.persica) Zagros forests (case study of Kalaje forests, Kermanshah province). PEC 2025; 12 (25) : 1
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