Evaluation of oak decline in relation to the diversity of woody species, soil properties and physiographic factors in southern Zagros forests

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. in Forestry, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Aghriculture, University of Ilam, Ilam, Iran

2 Associate professor, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Aghriculture, University of Ilam, Ilam, Iran

3 Asistant professor, Research Division of forests, Rangelands and Watershed, Ilam Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center (AREEO), Ilam, Iran

10.29252/aridbiom.2024.21417.2006

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the decline of oak in relation to the woody species diversity, soil characteristics and physiographic factors in Bankol region of Ilam province. This study was carried out in two aspects of the northern and eastern slopes and in three altitude classes (1340-1440, 1440-1540 and > 1540 m above sea level) with circular sample plots of 1000 m2. In the sample plots, the diversity of wood species and the dieback percentage of oak were determined. Soil samples were taken from the depth of 0 to 30 cm. The effect of topographic factors on soil properties, species diversity and dieback rate was investigated using two-way analysis of variance and comparing the means of Duncan's multi-range test. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to investigate the relationship between diversity indices, soil characteristics and dieback intensity along the elevation classes in each aspect. The results showed that elevation and aspect have a significant effect on soil properties, woody species diversity and dieback intensity. Based on the results, the amount of organic matter was higher on the north aspect than on the east aspect. The highest amount of total nitrogen recorded in 1440-1540 m and > 1540 m on the northern aspect and the lowest amount was in 1340-1440 m in the eastern aspect. The amount of soil phosphorus was highest in the northern aspect and at 1440-1540 m. Shannon-Weiner and Simpson's diversity indices and the richness of woody species were higher in the northern aaspect and middle and high elevation classes than the low elevation class. The highest dieback intensity was observed at altitudes > 1540 m in both the northern (9.88%) and eastern (10.55%) aspects, and the lowest value was in the middle elevation on the northern and eastern aspects, and these situations should be prioritized for protection, restoration and silvicultural merasures related this phenomenon.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Arid Biome
Volume 14, Issue 1
March 2024
Pages 91-106

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