Chestnut Coppice Research Articles

Early Thinning: A Promising Tool to Prevent Fistulina hepatica Heart Rot in Castanea sativa Coppice Stands

Castanea sativa is a high-value tree species whose stands have faced significant threats over the past century. The occurrence of one such threat, Chestnut Red Stain—a heartwood discoloration caused by the fungus Fistulina hepatica—has recently increased. This disease devalues the timber by up to 70% due to the rejection of stained wood by the industry. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of three management strategies on the occurrence of F. hepatica in chestnut coppice stands. Additionally, the co-occurrence of F. hepatica and Cryphonectria parasitica, both highly prevalent in the study area, was assessed. In 2013, three different silvicultural treatments were applied to five plots. Seven years later, the stand characteristics were measured, and the incidence of F. hepatica was evaluated using molecular tools. Data modeling revealed that the quadratic mean diameter before the interventions was related to the incidence of F. hepatica. Our results suggest that the thinning at earlier stand stages may be more critical than the type or intensity of the thinning in reducing the incidence of the fungus in the mid-term. This finding provides forest managers with new guidance to improve silvicultural treatments and prevent F. hepatica damage.

Analysis of Chainsaw Emissions during Chestnut Wood Operations and Their Health Implications

In Italy, the use of chainsaws for field operations such as Felling (FE), Delimbing (DE), and Bucking (BU) is widespread due to the topography, the medium–small size of farms, and the predominant presence of broad-leaved forests managed through coppicing. However, this has led to an increase in injuries and illnesses due to exposure to physical factors (e.g., noise, dust, and vibrations) and chemical agents (e.g., various volatile compounds). Occupational health and safety legislation in Italy has undergone several phases, including the approval of U.T. 81/2008. The present study aims to evaluate the noise generated by chainsaws and the concentration of pollutants (CO, VOC, and C6H6) present in chainsaw exhaust gases during interventions in a chestnut coppice in relation to the limits set by current legislation. The analysis of the noise generated by chainsaws during chestnut cutting operations showed that it exceeded the legal noise limits during all chainsaw activities, with peak levels of about 110 dB. The detected noise could cause important critical issues in relation to the health and safety of specialized operators. Furthermore, the correlation between the specific work (FE, DE, and BU) and the ratio between maximum and average values of CO and VOC emissions was evaluated. Notably, comparable levels of maximum VOC emissions were observed during the FE and BU phases. However, the average emission values during these phases exhibited significant differences, suggesting higher VOC production when the engine was running but not actively engaged in cutting. The highest emissions were recorded during the FE phase (CO = 135 ppm, VOC = 17.28 ppm, and C6H6 = 2.13 ppm).

Production of Chestnut Coppice Biomass in a Framework of Low Mechanization and High Expectations to Combat Climate Change and Other Social Expectations

Climate change has become one of the most critical problems facing modern society. Sustainable forest management can be an important solution to counter the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In particular, management of the chestnut forest could prove to be an effective strategy to absorb carbon dioxide as this species is characterized by sustained growth, so it has a high capacity to store carbon, and through the use of wood products, it is possible to sequester it for a considerable period. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) forests cover an area of about 800,000 ha in Italy, most of which is managed as coppice. It plays a central role in the Latium Region where its productive function is very important, as it provides timber of excellent quality. The purpose of this paper is to verify whether the current management of chestnut is efficient, as well as whether retractable wood products can contribute to the fight against climate change. The chestnut coppice located in the municipality of Tolfa (Lazio region, Italy) produces timber for 352 m3/ha and stores about 390,000 kg of CO2. Wood residues and losses during woodworking, together with emissions for the use of machineries, generate emissions of 368,000 kg of CO2. The chestnut semi-finished products, with long-term use prospects, retain a net volume of 22,000 kg of CO2. Although this is good for combating climate change, the amount of CO2 stored is very low, less than 6% of the CO2 stored by functional unit. Chestnut wood has a high versatility of use, so it could replace several products generated by fossil raw materials. Moreover, the implementation of precision forestry, the adoption of forest management more oriented to favor larger plants, the development of local economies and the reduction in the carbon footprint of the wood supply chain through the use of sustainable technologies would increase the capacity for climate change mitigation and increase the added value of its products.

Soil Organic Carbon Stock Assessment for Volunteer Carbon Removal Benefit: Methodological Approach in Chestnut Orchard for Fruit Production

The implementation of a protocol for supporting a reliable soil C market is needed. This paper aims to propose a methodology for evaluating soil organic C (SOC) stock changes for the C credit market. A 15-year-old chestnut orchard (CO) and a chestnut coppice (CC) as reference land were selected in the northern part of the Apennine chain (Italy). The CO is the result of the CC conversion carried out in 2005. The soil sampling by pedogenetic horizons till parent material was carried out in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 in CO and in 2005 and 2020 in CC. For each sample, the concentration and stock of the total SOC and of the most recalcitrant SOC form were estimated. Unlike the CC, in CO, an increase over time of SOC stocks was observed throughout the entire soil profile indicating the suitability of CO for C credit gaining. Most of the SOC was stored within the deepest soil horizon. The methodology can be considered eligible for the C credit market because, replicable, the CO was intentionally realized by humans after 1990, and the additionality was evaluated. Moreover, soil functionality was considered through the evaluation of SOC forms and of the pedogenetic horizons.

The impact of the Asian chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus) on chestnut tree growth may be mediated by site resources

IntroductionThe Asian chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus) is a major pest of chestnut trees worldwide, seriously affecting chestnut cultivation. Information concerning the effects of gall wasp attack on diameter growth of chestnut trees is currently scarce and limited to coppice stands and to use of the growth of a non-target control species (unaffected by the pest) for reference purposes. The effects of the pest on widely-spaced plantations (grown at a much lower density than chestnut coppices) and the use of explicitly-observed annual infestation rate data remain to be explored.MethodsIn the present study, we analyzed the impact of the chestnut gall wasp on the diameter growth of chestnut trees, using data from 16 experimental plots established in widely-spaced plantations located in good quality sites. Two of the plots are in plantations where a susceptible hybrid chestnut clone and a chestnut clone resistant to the gall wasp coexist, whereas the remaining 14 plots are in Castanea sativa plantations where the level of gall wasp infestation varies across trees and years. The plots were surveyed to determine the diameter growth of the trees and the level of infestation during 5 years (2017–2021).ResultsThe infestation level corresponding to the theoretical damage threshold was surpassed inmost plots during the study period. Nevertheless, there were no differences in the growth of attacked and unaffected plants in the two plots planted with hybrid clones with contrasting susceptibility to the gall wasp. The attack had a modest effect in C. sativa plots, with a mean reduction in annual basal area increment of 9.9%.DiscussionThese findings apparently contradict previous reports of a marked reduction in radial growth of chestnut coppice trees due to gall wasp attack. The difference in findings may be related to increased compensation for herbivory with increasing levels of resources (especially light) in the plantations under study, which were less dense than previously studied stands. The study outcomes add to existing knowledge on the impact of chestnut gall wasp on wood formation and may have implications regarding planting site recommendations and subsequent stand management.

Effectiveness of chemical and physical methods for stump sprout control in Castanea sativa Mill

In Europe, Castanea sativa Mill. is mainly managed as coppice. Health and market problems have raised the interest in the transformation of chestnut coppices into low-density forests for fruit production and silvopastures, or their substitution by naturally occurring broadleaves or timber-oriented plantations. In most cases, a selective or total removal of the existing chestnut stumps is required.We assessed the effectiveness of 7 methods for stump sprout control of Castanea sativa Mill. in Mediterranean conditions (NE Spain). We tested 3 cut-stump herbicide treatments: Roundup Energy Pro® (Glyphosate), Tordon 101® (Picloram + 2,4-D) and Garlon GS® (Fluoxipyr + Triclopyr) and 4 physical methods (stump uprooting or in situ fragmentation by excavator, stump cover with black polyethylene sheet or wood chips).Effectiveness was assessed by means of the number, length and basal width of sprouts in treated stumps one growing season after the treatments application. Phytotoxicity side-effects were assessed by means of foliar symptomatology during the vegetative period following treatments in untreated chestnut stumps neighbouring treated plots and in other broadleaved trees within the treated plots.Stump uprooting and Roundup® Energy Pro cut-stump application provided the highest effectiveness, with near 0 resprouts per treated stump; Garlon GS® and Tordon 101® also showed a high effectiveness (near 10 resprouts per treated stump). Other treatments showed no effectiveness and resprout intensity was not different to control. Herbicide application showed low to moderate phytotoxicity side-effects to neighbouring untreated chestnut stumps, being Roundup® Energy Pro the less phytotoxic. No side-effects were detected in other broadleaved species for any of the herbicides tested.Results suggest that herbicides are an interesting option for chestnut stump removal in poorly accessible or erosion-prone sites, where uprooting with heavy machinery is not feasible. Roundup® Energy Pro and Garlon GS® showed a low phytotoxicity on chestnut and thus can be useful for selective stump removal. The higher phytotoxicity showed by Tordon 101® on chestnut could be a disadvantage for its use if the aim is to reduce the initial density of stumps but maintain some of them in order to transform coppice to an orchard for chestnut production or silvopastures.

Optimizing quality wood production in chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) coppices

In the last decades, releasing standards have become a very common and in some cases even mandatory management options in coppice systems in Europe. As for the chestnut tree, a light demanding and fast-growing species, however, there is a lively debate and a lack of scientific evidences about the pros and cons of releasing standards, especially in stands devoted to quality wood production. In this paper we used nine chestnut coppice stands growing on similar site conditions - but differing in stool density and number of standard trees released - to analyze the effects of the stand structure (i.e., stool and standard density) on the growing performance in terms of diameter increment of the dominant shoots and overall basal area production. Simple coppicing (i.e., no standards release) confirmed to be the most suitable system to enable an initial full growing performance of a light-demanding species such as the chestnut. We thus recommend avoiding the release of standards in quality-wood chestnut coppices in order to allow the new shoots generation to develop undisturbed until the stage of the first thinning. The release of standards in chestnut coppices may however be appropriate in particular cases, such as in stands whose main aim is to protect against shallow landslides along steep slopes.

Balancing stand productivity and wood quality in chestnut coppices using chronosequence approach and productivity model

Trade-offs between high stand productivity and good wood quality exist for chestnut coppices and related wood-based products. The main objective of this study was to determine the most suitable duration (in years) of cutting cycles that maximizes stand productivity and preserve wood quality of chestnut coppices in a Mediterranean setting. To this aim, a stand-level growth model was developed to verify if wood quality of chestnut coppices at different stand ages varies when the rotation period is modified. Wood quality and stand productivity were analysed, using a chronosequence approach, in coppice stands in Southern Italy characterized by four cutting cycles (15, 25, 30, and 50 years). Results implied that the culmination of the mean annual increment occurs at 28 years, while the current annual increment culminates 10 years earlier. The MOEd values revealed a negative correlation with shoot age; however, a cutting cycle between 25 and 30 years might represent the best compromise for balancing stand productivity and wood quality. Results are discussed in the context of adaptive forest management.

Aesthetic preferences for deadwood in forest landscape: A case study in Italy

In the last decades, the structural and functional role of standing dead trees and lying deadwood in forests has been widely recognized by scientific community and forest managers. However, a large amount of deadwood in forests can have negative impacts on recreational forests by reducing the aesthetic value and site attractiveness. The aims of the present study are to investigate whether deadwood in forests is truly perceived negatively by people and whether socio-demographic characteristics influence the respondents’ perception. To achieve these aims, the study was implemented by submitting an online questionnaire to a sample of 1292 Italian citizens. The results show that 73.4% of respondents have previous knowledge of the concept of deadwood in forests, while 26.6% have never heard this concept. For most of the respondents, standing dead trees and lying deadwood have a negative aesthetic effect on the landscape (52.2% and 42.9%), while for only 7.5% and 23.0% of respondents standing dead trees and lying deadwood have a positive effect on forest landscape. The results show that for all six forest stands proposed (Old European beech coppice, Mediterranean maquis, Norway spruce high forest, simple sweet Chestnut coppice, European beech high forest, black pine high forest) the respondents prefer the situation without deadwood. Finally, the results show that deadwood – both standing dead trees and lying deadwood – in forests is on average more appreciated by male (rather than female), young people (rather than old people), and people with a low level of education (rather than people with a high level of education).

Canopy characterization of sweet chestnut coppice in the north of spain from lidar data

The Leaf Area Index (LAI) is a key parameter that helps to understand the connection between canopy structure and ecosystem functions. In this study, the main aims were to examine the impact of forest management on canopy structure using LiDAR data to characterize the canopy vertical profile, as well as to develop LAI models and an LAI mapping tool for sweet chestnut (Castanea Sativa Mill.) coppice. Twenty-one circular plots (r = 10 m) were established, each of which was submitted to one of the following forest management treatments: Control, with no intervention (3300–3700 stems ha−1); Treatment 1, one thinning to leave a living stock density of 900–600 stems ha−1; or Treatment 2, a more intensive thinning, leaving 400 stems ha−1. A LAI field measurement was made in all plots and the study area was recorded by LiDAR. With the LiDAR, two types of metrics were calculated: standard elevation metrics and canopy metrics. The results showed the different canopy layers of the study area, highlighting how the resprout layer influences the canopy structure of sweet chestnut coppice. By combining the LiDAR data and the LAI field estimates, various linear and nonlinear models were developed and tested, the linear model being found to have the best performance (R2 = 0.79) for the study area. With the selected linear model and other LiDAR data of interest such as the 95th percentile, an automatic mapping tool was designed. This tool allows spatially information to be generated that can be used to implement management strategies.

Correction to: Use of several host plants with different seed maturation times by the chestnut weevil, Curculio sikkimensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in mixed oak and chestnut coppice stands

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-021-00745-7

Use of several host plants with different seed maturation times by the chestnut weevil, Curculio sikkimensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in mixed oak and chestnut coppice stands

Curculio sikkimensis (Heller) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a serious pest of the Japanese chestnut, Castanea crenata, because the larvae feed inside seeds. Chestnut seeds are usually harvested before the larvae leave them, meaning it is unlikely that the weevil is based in orchards. Instead, adults from neighboring woodlands likely invade orchards to oviposit. In this study, I examined host plant use and the course of development of Cu. sikkimensis in mixed oak and chestnut coppice stands to improve our understanding of weevil infestations in chestnut orchards. Females oviposited into seeds of three Quercus species and Ca. crenata, whose seed maturation times differed, over several months. The phenology of the weevil’s oviposition most closely tracked that of Quercus serrata seed maturation. Mature larvae left the seeds and burrowed into the soil, where they overwintered—in some cases for up to three winters because of prolonged diapause. Adults emerged over the course of 1 month and survived for about 2 months; such traits seem to enable this weevil to reproduce for several months. Thus, Cu. sikkimensis uses several host plants in coppice stands, and its oviposition phenology suggests that it is more dependent on Q. serrata than on Ca. crenata.

Impact of the Asian gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus on the radial growth of the European chestnut Castanea sativa

Abstract The invasion of the Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus (ACGW) in Europe has caused serious biological and economic impacts on chestnut stands that have been partially solved with the introduction of the biological control agent Torymus sinensis. However, information concerning tree‐ring growth during the ACGW epidemic has been lacking so far. Using dendrochronology techniques, we analysed the impact of the ACGW on tree‐ring growth and the capacity of the chestnut tree to recover when biocontrol was achieved in seven sites covering the area of first detection and subsequent spread of the ACGW in Europe. In each site, a non‐target control species (i.e. trees not attacked by the ACGW) has been included as a reference in the analysis. Results show a reduction in the tree‐ring increment by 60% on average during the ACGW epidemic. Such effects were higher in the magnitude and longer in the duration when compared to other stresses such as insect defoliation or extreme summer droughts. Synthesis and applications. Marked reductions in radial growth were evident in the years of ACGW attack regardless of the age of the chestnut coppices. Since most of the trees only recovered to an almost normal growth rate after 3–4 years of biocontrol by T. sinensis, an immediate release of the antagonist at the first ACGW appearance is highly recommended. The consequences and perspectives of ACGW's attacks on the quality of the timber produced are also discussed.

Influence of forest stand characteristics on physical, mechanical properties and chemistry of chestnut wood

Site conditions and forest management affect dendrometric parameters of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) coppices, but there is modest knowledge on the effect of stand dendrometric characters on physical and mechanical wood characteristics. The aim of this study was to verify these relationships in chestnut coppices that were 12–14 years old. Wood density, compression and bending strength, shrinkages were measured on shoots of five different stand in a vulcanic site in Monte Amiata (Central – Italy). Investigated stands differ in number of stools/ha and dominant height, diameter/basal area of the shoots. The main difference in the physical characters among the stands is density. The initial results of the study showed that physical, mechanical wood characters are more dependent by the shoot than by the site. There is a positive relationships between the number of stools/ha and density and a negative one among shoot dominant height and basal area with wood density. Spectroscopic profile by FTIR has not showed relevant differences among the stands. Wood anatomy has showed the breakpoint at cellular level.

Soil Disturbance Induced by Silvicultural Treatment in Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) Coppice and Post-Disturbance Recovery

Chestnut forests represent an important environmental and landscape element in Europe, especially in the hill regions of southern Europe. In Italy, the total surface amount of chestnut forests is slightly expanded with 788,408 hectares, but orchards show a dramatic reduction (147,586 hectares or 20% of the total) and timber-producing stands a comparable expansion (605,888 hectares or 80%). The coppice management actually applied is considered one of the oldest forms of sustainable forest management. Over the years, coppice highlighted its versatility, resilience and multifunctionality. In this management system, in consideration of the “frequent” cutting cycles, special attention must be paid to forestry operations, because tree damage and soil compaction can trigger fungal disease and soil erosion. Frequent and repeated machine traffic increases the risk for soil degradation derived from compaction, topsoil removal and general disturbance. This study covered different forest areas and mechanization levels, in order to evaluate if the extent, type and severity of soil disturbance changed with site characteristics and logging technique. Furthermore, the study sought to obtain a better knowledge about the recovery time required for restoring the original soil properties after a disturbance has occurred. The findings showed that physical, chemical, and biological soil features were only partially disturbed by the coppicing and again that a high level of specialized mechanization does not generate heavier soil impact compared with the smaller and lighter machines deployed under the traditional and intermediate mechanization scenarios. Soil recovery in the impacted areas is already measurable one year after harvest and may be complete within the eight year—that is halfway through the standard rotation applied in the region to chestnut coppice.

Assessing Canopy Responses to Thinnings for Sweet Chestnut Coppice with Time-Series Vegetation Indices Derived from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 Imagery

Forest management treatments often translate into changes in forest structure. Understanding and assessing how forests react to these changes is key for forest managers to develop and follow sustainable practices. A strategy to remotely monitor the development of the canopy after thinning using satellite imagery time-series data is presented. The aim was to identify optimal remote sensing Vegetation Indices (VIs) to use as time-sensitive indicators of the early response of vegetation after the thinning of sweet chestnut (Castanea Sativa Mill.) coppice. For this, the changes produced at the canopy level by different thinning treatments and their evolution over time (2014–2019) were extracted from VI values corresponding to two trials involving 33 circular plots (r = 10 m). Plots were subjected to one of the following forest management treatments: Control with no intervention (2800–3300 stems ha−1), Treatment 1, one thinning leaving a living stock density of 900–600 stems ha−1 and Treatment 2, a more intensive thinning, leaving 400 stems ha−1. Time series data from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 were collected to calculate values for different VIs. Canopy development was computed by comparing the area under curves (AUCs) of different VI time-series annually throughout the study period. Soil-Line VIs were compared to the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) revealing that the Second Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (MCARI2) more clearly demonstrated canopy evolution tendencies over time than the NDVI. MCARI2 data from both L8 and S2 reflected how the influence of treatment on the canopy cover decreases over the years, providing significant differences in the thinning year and the year after. Metrics derived from the MCARI2 time-series also demonstrated the capacity of the canopy to recovery to pretreatment coverage levels. The AUC method generates a specific V-shaped time-signature, the vertex of which coincides with the thinning event and, as such, provides forest managers with another tool to assist decision making in the development of sustainable forest management strategies.

A tomographic approach to assessing the possibility of ring shake presence in standing chestnut trees

Ring shake is a widespread phenomenon affecting a great number of species of both softwood and hardwood and is found in trees grown in temperate and tropical climates. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) represents one of the most important hardwood timbers that is very often affected by ring shake. This defect seems to be the only real limit to the spread and use of chestnut wood worldwide on a scale closer to the availability of this wood. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of tomographic measurement as a non-destructive method for predicting the possibility of the presence of ring shake in standing chestnut trees. For this reason, the experiments were carried out in a chestnut coppice stand where one hundred chestnut standards were monitored using an acoustic tomographic device, and subsequently harvested by a local company and cross-sectioned corresponding to the acoustic tests. This work proposed an applied approach to predicting and determining wood quality (sound wood vs. defective wood) from tomographic data. The model, based on a non-linear approach, showed that sonic tomography can identify ring shake in a tree trunk without affecting its biological activity, overcoming the difficulties of predicting ring shake using only visual inspection.

Shrinkage and Swelling of Greek Chestnut Wood (CastaneaSativaMill.) in Relation to Extractives Presence

The study of various woods shrinkage is of particular practical importance because the wood’s property to shrink and swell with the adsorption or absorption of moisture from the atmosphere is a main cause of many defects that occur in wood and furniture during weather conditions changing. In the present study, measurements of the shrinkage of chestnut coppice wood samples were performed before and after extraction. The extraction was carried out with hot water for 6 and 12 days. Afterwards, the dry density, radial and tangential shrinkage were determined both in air-dry conditions and in absolute dry conditions. Moreover, the fiber saturation point was determined for the selected samples. The most significant result arrived from this study is that, now, in conjunction with the other researches have been made, there is enough evidence for chestnut wood from Mediterranean coppice forests, to claim that maximum radial shrinkage is about 3.83% (ranging from 3.40% - 4.12%) and maximum tangential shrinkage is about 6.58% (ranging from 6.21% - 8.20%).

Seed regeneration of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) under different coppicing approaches

The management of Italian chestnut coppices has gradually been suspended after World War II, causing a widespread overaging of the concerned stands. In recent years, the renewed interest in coppice wood products increased the need of a solid knowledge on the most suitable restoration practices of overaged coppices.In this context, a key issue is assuring a qualitative and abundant seed regeneration of the chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Miller) in order to substitute overaged stools. Open questions still exist however on the role of the standards (trees released after coppicing) and, in particular, on their interaction with the post-coppicing establishment of seed regeneration.In order to clarify these aspects, we applied different coppicing systems in overaged chestnut coppices so as to create a gradient of residual coverage ranging from full coverage left (no intervention) to simple coppicing (all trees cut, no standards released). The impact of different treatments on chestnut regeneration has been then assessed through field surveys in the second and fifth year post-coppicing, respectively.Chestnut seed regeneration promptly and abundantly established to guarantee the replacement of dead stools also in the simple coppicing. The post-coppicing pulse of chestnut seed regeneration mostly originated from the existing annual seed bank and it was concentrated in the first two years after the intervention, whereas seed inputs by standards or by adult trees at the forest edge played a secondary or negligible role from the third post-coppicing year onwards. Thus, the presence of standards did not benefit regeneration. Rather, it displayed a marked depressive effect on the growth rate of young chestnut seedlings and, under significant shading conditions, enhanced the establishment of shade-tolerant tree species.From a silvicultural point of view, simple coppicing of overaged chestnut coppices represents a valuable management option combining a rapid establishment of natural seed regeneration of chestnut with the resprout and development of the most vigorous stools.

Kestane Baltalıklarında Aralamaların Büyümeye Kısa Süreli Etkileri

Türkiye’nin önemli orman ağaçlarından biri olan Anadolu kestanesi (Castanea sativaMill.) geniş alanlarda saf ve karışık meşcereler kurmaktadır. Kestane biyolojisine aykırı uygulamalar ve çeşitli hastalıklar nedeniyle koru kestane ormanlarının vasfı bozulmuş, birçok yerde baltalık vasıflı işletilmesi silvikültürel seçenek haline gelmiştir. Aralama, ormanların işletilmesinde kullanılan en önemli silvikültürel müdahalelerden biridir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Gölcük (Kocaeli) yöresi 15 yaşındaki kestane baltalıklarında aralama şiddetinin çap, göğüs yüzeyi ve hacim ile bunların artımlarına bir yıllık etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Aralama denemesi rastlantı blokları deneme desenine göre üç tekrarlı kurulmuş ve dört farklı aralama şiddeti uygulanmıştır. Aralama öncesi meşcere ağaç sayısı, orta çapı, göğüs yüzeyi ve hacmi sırasıyla 4936 adet, 8.73 cm, 30.71 m2 ha-1 ve 163.68 m3 ha-1’dı. Aralama ile göğüs yüzeyinin % 0 (kontrol), % 18’si (mutedil), % 34’ü (şiddetli) ve % 49’u (çok şiddetli) meşcereden çıkartılmıştır. Aralamanın bir yıllık sonuçlarına göre; aralama şiddeti arttıkça çap artımı artmakta, buna bağlı olarak aralanan parseller kontrol kadar göğüs yüzeyi ve hacim artımı yapmışlardır. Çok şiddetli aralanan meşceredeki çap artımı kontrolün iki katı kadardır. Aralama şiddetine bağlı olarak başlangıç çap sınıfları arttıkça çap artımı da artmıştır. Aralamanın büyümeye etkisi bağlamında daha uzun süreli sonuçlara ihtiyaç duyulmakla birlikte, ulaşılan bir yıllık sonuçlara göre benzer özellikteki kestane baltalıklarında çok kuvvetli aralamalar önerilebilir.