Effect of physiography on asexual reproduction of Iron wood (C‍ase study: Kheiroud forest)

Abstract

Iron wood (Parrotia persica) is one of the endemic species in the Hyrcanian forests that grows naturally in the northern forests of Iran. This species is reproduced through asexual reproduction using coppice shoot. In order to determine the effect of altitude on asexual regeneration of Ironwood, Kheiroud experimental forest was selected. The altitude was categorized in the groups of 1) less than 400 m, 2) 400-800 m and 3) 800-1200 m.a.s.l. The coppice shoots were also divided into two groups of a) dbh 5 cm. 90 circle plots, each 1000 m2, were laid out in the study area. Analyze of variance and Duncan’s test were used to compare the number of coppice shoots among and between the groups. Results showed that the maximum total number of coppice shoots (10.3/tree) was counted in the lower altitude group (400 m.a.s.l.) while, the maximum number of coppice shoots with dbh >5 cm (3.5/tree) was counted in higher elevations (800-1200 m.a.s.l.). The differences between groups were statistically significant. In general, producing of coppice shoots shows an inverse relation with increasing of altitude. This study suggests that silvicultural interventions should be more focused in lower elevations.

Keywords

• Parrotia persica
• Kheiroud forest
• coppice shoot
• diameter classes
• elevation classes