Estimation of Leaf Area Index and Assessment of Its Allometric Equations in Oak Forests: Northern Zagros, Iran

JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, 58, 2012 (3): 116–122 Estimation of leaf area index and assessment of its allometric equations in oak forests: Northern Zagros, Iran S. Khosravi1, M. Namiranian1, H. Ghazanfari2, A. Shirvani1 1Forestry and Forest Economics Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran 2Forestry Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran ABSTRACT: The focus of the present study is the estimation of leaf area index (LAI) and the assessment of allometric equations for predicting the leaf area of Lebanon oaks (Quercus libani Oliv.) in Iran’s Northern Zagros forests. To that end, 50 oak trees were randomly selected and their biophysical parameters were measured. Then, on the basis of destructive sampling of the oak trees, their specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area were measured. The results showed that SLA and LAI of the Lebanon oaks were 136.9 cm·g–1 and 1.99, respectively. Among all the parameters we measured, the crown volume exhibited the highest correlation with LAI (r2 = 0.65). The easily measured tree parameters such as diameter at breast height did not show a high correlation with leaf area (r2 = 0.36). Our obtained moderate correlations in the allometric equations could be due to the fact that branches of these trees had been pollarded by the local people when the branches were only 3 or 4 years old; therefore, the natural structure of the crowns in these trees might have been damaged. Keywords: allometric relationships; destructive sampling; leaf area index; Quercus libani Oliv.; specific leaf area One of the most commonly used parameters for are generally faster and amendable to automation, the analysis of canopy structures is leaf area index and thereby allow for a larger spatial sample to be (LAI) (Beadle 1997; López-Serrano et al. 2000; obtained (Jonckheere et al. 2004). Unfortunately, Davi et al. 2009) which is defined as the project- the lack of the required equipment for doing such ed one-sided leaf area per unit ground area (De- newly established researches in Iran in the field of blonde et al. 1994). This parameter determines the natural resources has placed obstacles in the way of amount of the plant – atmosphere interface; hence, researchers to estimate LA through using indirect it plays a crucial role in the process of exchanging methods (Adl 2007). To determine LAI, it is essen- energy and mass between the canopy and the at- tial to have an exactly accurate estimation of the to- mosphere (Weiss et al. 2004). Methods for the esti- tal LA of a tree. Though direct methods are of very mation of LAI are mainly categorized as direct and high accuracy, they have the drawback of being ex- indirect methods (Kussner, Mosandl 2000). It is tremely time-consuming; consequently, they make difficult to use direct methods, including harvest- large-scale implementation only marginally feasi- ing, allometry and litter collection (Bréda 2003). ble (Jonckheere et al. 2004). Another important Then, to obtain the LAI of a stand, a destructive aspect of tree researches is the task of figuring out sampling should be done through harvesting the to- an appropriate allometric relationship between LA tal leaf biomass of the trees to generate the total dry and other biophysical parameters of trees such as weight of the foliage (Arias et al. 2007). On the oth- diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, crown er hand, indirect methods, in which leaf area (LA) surface area, and litter mass (Vyas et al. 2010). is inferred from observations of another variable, These relationships relating to litter mass and DBH 116 J. FOR. SCI., 58, 2012 (3): 116–122 can be used to estimate LAI by having the specific ing questions: Can biophysical parameters such as leaf area (SLA) (Gower et al. 1999). Many studies DBH, basal area, tree height, crown length, crown have shown a relationship between LAI and these projected area, and crown volume predict the tree parameters for different species (López-Serrano leaf area? And which of these parameters can be a et al. 2000; Turner et al. 2000; Tobin et al. 2006; better predictor to estimate the leaf area? Arias et al. 2007; Pokorný, Tomášková 2007; Vyas et al. 2010). However, allometric equations have rarely been investigated in oak forests so far MATERiaL anD METHODS (Čermák et al. 2008; Babaei-Kafaki et al. 2009). The oak forests of Baneh (a small town in Iran) Study area are among the most important natural ecosys- tems located in the Northern Zagros Mountains, Our investigated areas are Armardeh forests lo- and despite their importance, they have not been cated in the southwest of Baneh and northwest of studied comprehensively so far. These forests are Kurdistan province, Iran. These forests extend from the richest in the number of oak species in com- 35°51'40" to 35°57'55"N latitude and from 45°44'20" parison with forests of central and southern Za- to 45°49'55"E longitude, with a mean altitude of gros, and Lebanon oak (Quercus libani Oliv.) is about 1,620 m a.s.l. Quercus libani, Quercus infec- one of the dominant tree species in these forests. toria and Quercus brantii are the most dominant Although the policy of Iran’s Forest and Rangeland tree species of our areas of investigation. Gene- Organization is to conserve these forests, due to rally, the watershed of Baneh is a highland region the lack of social acceptance and participation, this with long, snowy, and cold winters and mild sum- policy has not been successfully implemented yet mers. The ombrothermic curve of the monthly sum (Ebrahimi-Rastaghi 2001; Ghazanfari et al. of precipitation and the average temperature for 2004). Consequently, traditional exploitations by 2001–2010 indicate that the dry period may occur local communities living in these regions have still during five months of the year. During this decade, continued. Long-term heavy dependence of forest the mean annual precipitation was 690 mm, most dwellers upon forests resulted in the construction of which was in late autumn to early spring. Fur- of special relationships named traditional forestry thermore, the maximum and minimum tempera- (Valipour et al. 2009). Because of grinding pov- tures in the hottest and coldest months of the year erty of the local people, the villagers cut branches were 29.3°C and 4°C, respectively. off oak trees as fodder supply. This process is as follows: each traditional owner of an area of the forest divides his forest area into 3 or 4 sections; Data collection every year in the late growing season, all branches of trees in one of these sections are pollarded; At the beginning of our study, an appropriate thereafter, the leaf-bearing pollarded branches will stand of the abovementioned area was selected, be stored to be used in winter. The principal objec- and the goal of this research was simply explained tive of this traditional forest management pursued to the local owner of that stand in order to get his by forest owners in the region is the production of agreement for participation. In the second stage, fodder for domestic animals, firewood and timber to estimate the density of trees, three parts of (Ghazanfari et al. 2004). In addition, grazing the desired stand were chosen as its representa- prevents natural regeneration of trees (Ebrahimi- tives, and using GPS, the area of these three parts Rastaghi 2001) and leads to old even-aged stands was determined to be approximately 13 hectares. in the forests; hence, the stability of the ecosystem Then, types of species and total trees in this area would be threatened. Under present circumstanc- were evaluated. The results of the inventory for the es, basic information such as biomass, LAI and its identified species of trees showed that the densi- allometric relationships is needed to choose a cor- ties of the total trees, Quercus libani and Quercus rect forest management strategy before the valu- infectoria were 370, 302, and 68 trees·ha–1, respec- able forests of this region are totally destroyed. tively. In the third stage, 50 Lebanon oaks were This article is aimed at estimating LAI and SLA randomly selected, and their biophysical param- with the use of a direct method (destructive sam- eters such as DBH, basal area, tree height, crown pling) and at assessing useful allometric equations length, crown projected area, and crown volume to predict LA of Lebanon oak in Northern Zagros were measured. It should be noted that there are forests in Iran. We do this by addressing the follow- various methods for measuring the LAI of a tree. J. FOR. SCI., 58, 2012 (3): 116–122 117 The direct approaches, not commonly used in such ered to have an approximately oval shape (Fig. 1). studies, are very time-consuming; moreover, for Thus, the volume of the sample trees crown was the case of LA estimation, they are expensive and calculated as follows: destructive to the sample (Vyas et al. 2010). How- 4 dc dc lc ever, in view of the fact that branches and leaves of V = ––– ∏ × –––1 × –––2 × ––– (1) c 3 2 2 2 the oak trees in our study area had been pollarded by local people, we utilized a direct method to es- where: 3 timate LAI. Thus, in the fourth stage, the numbers Vc – volume of the tree crown (m ); d , d in terms of m – two diameters of the crown based of branches of sample trees were determined after c1 c2 they had been totally pollarded by the local owner. on the measurements made along two perpen- From each sample tree, 20 branches were select- dicular directions, ed in different directions, and also from all parts lc – crown length (m).

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