Abstract
Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) is a valuable native species in Iranian forests with very limited availability of data on its wood properties. The objective of the current study was to determine the influence of altitude and slope on physical properties and fiber dimensions of Persian oak wood. In addition, the relationship among wood properties, site conditions (temperature and rainfall) and growth traits of trees (tree height, DBH, basal area, age, crown diameter, crown basal area, volume and annual diameter increment) were studied by principal component analysis (PCA). Three altitude levels (1730, 1980 and 2250 m) and three slope classes (<30%, 30–45% and >45%) were considered in the current study. It was determined that trees growing in the intermediate altitude (1980 m) showed the highest oven-dry density values, and those in the lowest altitude (1730 m) revealed the lowest ones. The results also indicate significant statistical differences between altitude levels and slope classes on the fiber length, fiber diameter and volumetric swelling at the 99% confidence interval while no significant differences were found between average values of oven-dry density among different altitudes and slopes. PCA analysis indicated that altitude and temperature are the most important factors affecting the wood properties. Knowledge of the relationship between wood properties and environmental factors are essential in terms of both forestry management and wood applications.
Highlights
Quercus spp. represent essential members of the family Fagaceae including more than 500 species of oaks which are distributed in the whole northern hemisphere [1]
Considering the importance of environmental factors on the wood properties and valuable position of Q. brantii for Iranian forests, the objectives of this study were to identify the changes of oven-dry density, fiber length, fiber diameter and cell wall thickness of Persian oak wood, depending on different altitude levels and slope classes as well as to explore the relationship between wood characteristics and environmental factors
Physical and wood fiber properties of Persian oak wood were investigated at different altitudes above the sea level and slopes
Summary
Quercus spp. represent essential members of the family Fagaceae including more than 500 species of oaks which are distributed in the whole northern hemisphere [1]. There are eight species of Quercus naturally occurring in Iran. Oak tree species are widely spread in Arasbaran, Hyrcanian and Zagros forests in Iran. The highest species diversity of oak is documented for the Zagros forests [2]. The Zagros forests with an area of five million hectares cover approximately 40% of Iranian forests and are the widest forest areas of the country [3]. The three main oak species are Quercus brantii, Q. infectoria and
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