Effect of forest exposure on growth and nutrient balance at Hijran forest.

Abstract

The study was conducted during 2022 at Hijran forest at right side of the main road of Salahaddin - Shaqalawa in Erbil governorate Iraqi Kurdistan region with GPS reading (latitudes = 36°22' to 36º24' N; longitudes = 44°16' to 44°19' E.). This study was carried out to determine the effect of two forest exposures (north east and south west) using randomized block design using three replicates on growth and nutrient balance of oak trees (Quercus aegilops L.). Growth parameter including tree height (m), stem diameter (cm), and leaf area (cm2) as well as nutrient balance were measured according to the standard methods. The results indicated that the forest exposure affected significantly on the studied characters. The highest values of tree height, stem diameter at breast height level, and leaf area were (4.48 m, 11.03 cm, and 39.60 cm2) which were recorded from north east while their lowest values (3.22 m, 4.64 cm, and 25.78 cm2) were observed from south west. On the other hand, the exposures also affected on nutrient balance, the nutrient balance at north east exposure was better than the south west. The difference between the ratios of the studied nutrients and their critical values were higher at north east exposure in comparing with south west. The goals of this study is testing the influence Hijran forest exposure on nutrient balance and tree growth to notice some factors to be followed that affects widely on the reforestation program like site selection that must take into account elements including soil quality, topography, water availability, climate in addition to the selection of native tree species that can live in the degraded area and are well fit into the regional ecosystem; there is also to be the plantation of the variety of tree species to increase biodiversity

Keywords

• Growth characteristics, North east and south west exposures, nutrient balance, Oak trees.