JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, 64, 2018 (9): 394–401 https://doi.org/10.17221/17/2018-JFS Results of silvicultural treatments conducted in the beech forests of Azerbaijan Aydin B. YAKHYAEV 1*, Vahid S. FARZALIYEV 2, Farid S. SEYFULLAYEV 2 1Department of Building Materials, Faculty of Construction – Technology, Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction, Baku, Azerbaijan 2Central Botanical Garden of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract Yakhyaev A.B., Farzaliyev V.S., Seyfullayev F.S. (2018): Results of silvicultural treatments conducted in the beech forests of Azerbaijan. J. For. Sci., 64: 394–401. In order to increase productivity, sustainability and protection of the 5-year-old beech plantations of the Greater Caucasus northeastern slopes, 10 plots were established in large gaps and glades of four quarters of the Quba and Qusar forestry. Silvicultural treatments which were realized based on sowing and planting methods or applying both of them in a combined form were carried in this region. The sowing operations were carried out on sites of 1 × 1 m and 1 × 2 m in size and using an amount of 120–300 individuals per hectare, located across the slope. The best results in sowing sites in terms of the number of emerging beech seedlings and their survival were obtained in fresh herbage, and the worst in moist herbage forest growing conditions. In the stands created by planting, in fresh herbage forest growing conditions the best results were obtained in the middle mountain belt and satisfactory in the high mountain belt. Cultivated plants 6–8 years after sowing (planting) were transferred to a forest covered area. During this time, in the plants were carried out: with sowing – 10 treatments, with planting – 5 agrotechnical treatments. Keywords: beech stands; reforestation; plants; sowing; seedlings; forest growing conditions Beech (Fagus orientalis Linnaeus) forests in the vine-beam network and a large amount of annual northern regions of Azerbaijan are distributed precipitation (700–1,200 mm), cause intensive ero- along the northeastern slopes of the Greater Cau- sion processes, which are intensified on treeless casus (700–2,000 m a.s.l.), where they cover about plots (Yakhyaev 2011; Yakhyaev, Farzaliev 36% of the forest area (Prilipko 1952). Random 2014; Yakhyaev et al. 2015). cuts in the past, recreational pressure, transfer of In the beech forests of this region, spread on the wooded lands into farmlands, uncontrolled graz- mountain slopes of 11–25°, the beech plantations ing and forest fires have exerted a significant -im were created in small sites by a terrace method by pact on the beech forest located on the northeast- planting and proportion of 20% mountain maple in ern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. As a result, the plantations, which were accompanied by large the productivity and sustainability of plantations material and labour costs. On the other hand, this decreased with the formation of low-density beech work did not take into account natural factors and stands (0.2–0.5) in forest areas, and numerous technological parameters (Asadov 2008). As a re- large gaps and glades of different configurations sult, the rates of survival and preservation of cul- and dimensions were formed. On the other hand, tures were low. the northeastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, The purpose of the present work is the restoration marked by high steepness, a strongly dissected ra- of local beech forests in large gaps and glades by cre- 394 J. FOR. SCI., 64, 2018 (9): 394–401 J. FOR. SCI., fall ofseeds,rally –with anatural adistance and at 15mfrom seedup to beech trees, itwas sown natu sev results and suggestions of the plants and as well as discussing when results, the servations, defining when numberof the size and of this –in establishing the of plantations, during ob and the fine structureof the litter was mixed. Besides sites, the cm soils 6–7 to adepth loosened of were from the and surface litter removed cover the of were in autumnyear, until the seeds fell as grass follows: soils a The crop for were of treated sites the al. 2016). farms and economic consideration ( as the poor availability on equipment appropriate of processes in treeless areas with soil treatment, as well thisof danger the region, of intensification erosion of method is mainly dictated the by characteristic relief tialof the of preparation this soil choice plots.The of 300 individuals per hectare. steepnessmore than 15 1 of tablished:with slopes on 15 steepness of in es astaggered were sites the across way slope, with ha, P5–9) an area 0.076–0.149 of (P1–2, plots in sowing. Methodology was carried as out described to 30 the m, silvicultural was carried work by out In beech large of gaps forestswith awidth up of (partly medium shallow)1). of thickness (Table fescuetypes of forest conditions. Soils are brown sified moistherbage and fresh herbage, into fresh 0.3 varied height age within and m, density 0.2 to 4–14 hornbeam, whose aver units), maple beech (3–10 trees of groups selected of sites, mainly participated the composition of the surrounding plantations or search area continental is moderately and humid. In and northeastern exposures. climate The of re the to 35 ma.s.l.,heights with 935–1,486 of steepness 11 of established were mountains the of on slopes the at and districts Quba forest during Plots 2008–2014. large and gaps glades beech of Qusar forestsof terraces and partial tillage in mountain conditions. ating stands this of species without of preparation 1976; On the sites of the plots sites ofthe On the located adistance of at used par method asimple –underthe shovel, We Establishing aplantation sowing by method studiesThe carriedwere non-renewing out in Paramonov units. Here forest growing conditions are clas (1977) and (1977) × ° , which the are on northwestern concentrated Оniskiv 2 m, 120–160 individuals 120–160 2 m, per hectare;with MATERIAL AND METHODSMATERIAL 64 , 2018(9):394–401 1992; Аmirov (1970). For this For purpose, in seven (1970). Badalov (2004) were considered. ° and size 1 of Мirzoyev Мirzoyev 2012; (1967), Kurbanov × Тishkevich 1 m, 250m, 1 to ° and size Malt et - - - - - - - - . Table 1. Planting site characteristics Plot District Plot size Altitude Slope Thin forest Forest edge Forest regeneration Area No. of Strips Exposition Forest type Density No. name code, area (ha) (m) (m a.s.l.) steepness (°) composition height (m) method (ha) sites size (m) No. 1 41/2, 12 18 × 58 1,384 24 NW 7Be2Hb1Mp fresh herbage 0.3 13 natural sowing 0.105 32 – – 2 41/9, 4 24 × 62 1,265 11 NE 10Be + Hb moist herbage 0.2 4 artificial sowing 0.149 57 – – 7Be2Mp1Ap 3 Qusar 41/21, 1.1 58 × 72 1,486 22 NW fresh herbage – – planting 0.418 – 8 × 30 8 –6Be3Hb1Mp 6Be3Hb1Mp 4 43/16, 2.3 54 × 64 1,113 14 NW fresh herbage – – planting 0.346 – 8 × 24 6 –8Be2Hb natural/artificial 5 24/2, 15 26 × 40 1,216 19 NE 6Hb3Be1Mp fresh fescue 0.3 8 0.104 10/22 – – sowing 6 24/6, 3.5 21 × 36 935 15 NE 5Be5Hb fresh fescue 0.3 13 natural sowing 0.076 12 – – 7 Quba 24/11, 2.5 25 × 41 1,144 22 NE 10Be + Hb fresh fescue 0.3 11 natural sowing 0.103 31 – – 8 24/8, 7.0 30 × 46 1,052 24 NE 10Be fresh herbage 0.2 8 natural sowing 0.138 42 – – 9 25/26, 1.2 17 × 51 1,241 33 NE 10Be fresh herbage 0.3 14 artificial sowing 0.087 26 – – 395 10 25/27, 1.6 52 × 81 1,086 35 NE 10Be – 6Be4Hb fresh herbage – – natural sowing 0.421 – 8 × 36 6 Be – beech, Hb – hornbeam, Мр – maple, Ap – apple of more than 15 m – in an artificial way, i.е. beech The soils of the strips were prepared in a simple and seeds prepared in farms. Totally 111 natural and accessible way – under the shovel, without the prepa- 121 artificial sites were sown. In the first decade of ration of terraces on these plots. Forest plantations December, sites with natural seeding were covered began with the cleaning of the entire area of selected with a thin layer (2–3 cm) of fine-structured litter plots from shrubs, while keeping only herbaceous and areas with artificial sowing, immediately after plants, projective coverage of which was 0.3–0.8. the sowing operations were completed. Further, Planting places of saplings were prepared with di- to protect the seeds from animals, as well as from mensions of 75 × 75 cm, depth 40–50 cm, with back- trampling, the sown areas were fenced completely ward sloping of 2–3°. Depending on the forest condi- or in groups. tion of this region beech (Be), oak (O), oriental ash, Establishing a plantation by planting method. Caucasian hornbeam (Hb), mountain maple (Mp), On three plots (P3–4, P10) of beech plantations, mountain bighorn, pine were used, which have silvi- glades without regeneration, width of more than cultural and economic significance in the beech area 30 m, beech stands were created by planting sap- (Safarov 1967; Badalov 2012). In this case, oak lings. For this purpose were allocated 20 strips and maple seedlings were 3 years old, and hornbeam with the size of 6–8 × 24–36 m and located across and ash were 2 years old (due to their fast growing the slope with 4–6 m breaks. The distance between ability). Sizes of beech saplings were the following: the strips was 8–10 m.