Abstract

The total forest area of Iran is approximately 12 million ha which make only 7.3% of the total land area. Foundoglu forest is a unique forest with 1773 ha and located at the and of western Elburz Mountain chains, in Ardabil province (North Eastern of Iran). For doing this research, we have organized a sampling to drive structural information of some quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Stand measurement was a systematic random sampling. With the sampling grid of 150x200 m and plot area 500 m² and the measurement of structural characteristics were done to get information on species, origin of sp., quality of sp., collar diameter, total height canopy cover, regeneration, slope aspect and altitude. Results showed that common hazel is distributed on site between 1370 and 1580 m.a.s.I. with 352.2 mm annul precipitation and mean annul temperature 9.7°C five vegetation types of Corylus-Quercus, Corylus-Fagus, Fagus-Corylus, Corylus-Acer and mixed Corylus were separated.

---

INTRODUCTION

The total forest area of Iran is approximately 12 million ha which make only 7.3% of the total land area (Marvie-Mohadjer, 2005). However, it is rich country with aspect of plant biodiversity with almost 8000 vascular plants. Fandogluo forest is a unique forest with 1773 ha (Yousefpour et al., 2004) and located at the and of western Elburz Mountain chains in Ardabil province (Northwestern of Iran), the area smooth topography and climatically sub humid (Anonymous, 1984). Common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) is the most important tree species in Fandogluo forest. Common hazel is typically a shrub reaching 5 m tall but can reach 8 m. The leaves are deciduas, rounded 6-13 cm long across 5-10 cm, softly hairy on both surface (Sabeti, 1976). There are some study about forests, study of environmental adaption ecology (Moraghbi, 2001). In particular about phytosociology of Fandugluo forest (Teymourazadeh et al., 2004) and about succession of Beech stand (Anonymous, 1984).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study sites: The experimental forest is a 256 ha between longitudes 48°42′ 31″ and 48°53′25″ and latitudes 38°17′11″ and 38°25′50″. Minimum altitudes about 980 m and the maximum 1550 m.a.s.l. the slope inclination in this sites is 5-35%. Mean annual temperature is around 9.7°C while the mean annual rainfall is estimated to be around 352.2 mm and high number of foggy days is particularly effective is supply water regimen. Dominant tree and shrub species in this region consist of Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) Carpinus orientalis L., Quercus castane folia, Acer campestre L., Malus orientalis L., Quercus macranthera F. and M.

Methods: For doing this research, we have organized a sampling to drive structural information of some quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Stand measurement was a systematic-random sampling (Zobeiry, 2002). With the sampling grid of 150x200 m and plot area 500 m² and the measurement of structural characteristics were done to get information on species, origin of sp. quality of sp., collar diameter, total hight, canopy cover, regeneration, slope, aspect and altitude.

RESULTS

The results of these measurement is shown in the Table 1 and shows that how different are the measured stands. Kuchler physiognomic method in 1988 was used for forest classification totally, five different types of Corylus-Quercus, Corylus-Fagus, Fagus-Corylus, Corylus-Acer and mixed Corylus were separated.

Table 1:	Five types of common hazel in study site

 

Table 2:	Qualitative and quantative characteristics of diffrernt forest types

 

 

Table 3:	Qualitative and quantities characteristics of common hazel in study site

 

The results of inventory showed that distribution range of altitude varies between 1370-1580 m.a.s.l (Table 1). The highest common hazel trees were observed on Corylus-Quercus type (4.9 m) and Corylus-Fagus type (4.5 m), respectively. The most frequency of Corylus (%) was observed on Corylus-Fagus (61.5%) and the most number of sprouts on stump were observed on Mixed Corylus type (Table 2 and 3).

CONCLUSION

Ardabil province where is located in northwestern of Iran contains 1.8 million hectare. Fandogluo forest that located in the east Ardabil city is very important of ecological condition and specific fauna and flora. This non commercial forest including species such as common hazel, oak, beech, hornbeam, maple trees. Like other investigations of Yousefpour et al. (2004) and Teymourazadeh et al. (2004) in this forest, diversity of woody species is very high and Average of number of sprout on stump is showed that forest structure in this forest is coppice system (Anonymous, 1984; Teymourazadeh et al., 2004).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study was supported by Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch, Ardabil, Iran in 2010.

How to cite this article:

Younes Rostamikia, Ali Akbar Imani and Muharram Hoshyar. Investigation on Quality and Quantity of Forest Types Common Hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in Foundogluo Forest, Iran.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/brj.2011.1.2
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1995-4751/brj.2011.1.2