Growth response of Lebanon
cedar (Cedrus libani ) plantations
to thinning intensity in
western
Turkey
Serdar Carus* and Yilmaz Catal
Department
of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Suleyman Demirel, 32260 Cunur, Isparta, Turkey
(Received: September 22, 2008; Revised
received: March
27, 2009; Accepted: April 09, 2008)
Abstract: This paper presents the growth
response of 25 yr old Lebanon
cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.)
plantation to thinnings of different intensities in Isparta in western Turkey. The thinning intensity was
measured by using the residual basal area (%) as parameter. In spring of 2005,
three treatments were tested; light, moderate and heavy thinning with
respectively 10, 25 and 35% of basal area removed. The statistical design of
the experiment was a randomized incomplete block with two blocks and three
treatments. Variables such as diameter at breast height (diameter) and height
were measured. Growth rate ratios of diameter in moderately thinned and heavily
thinned stands were 1.02 and 1.03, respectively. Basal area growth rates in
moderately thinned and heavily thinned plots were 0.93 and 1.05, respectively.
The largest values for the mean tree were observed with the heaviest thinning
treatment. Absolute diameter increment was positively correlated with initial
diameter in all plots. Relative diameter growth was negatively correlated with
initial diameter. Growth rate interpretations were supported by analysis of
variance using Duncan?s
test of range multiple. The results obtained show significant differences
between treatments for tree height growth, for the two inventories carried out
(2005, 2008). However, diameter, basal area and volume were no found between
treatments for tree.
Key
words: Lebanon cedar,
Stand growth, Thinning intensity, Tree growth
??????? PDF of full length paper
is available online
Copyright ? 2010 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any
form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity
of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest
completely with the author(s).