Soil and site factors influencing purple-flowered rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L.) and eastern beech forests (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in Turkey

Biological invasions threaten global biodiversity and forest ecosystems; therefore, it is necessary to use appropriate strategies for combating the spread of invasive species. Natural regeneration of eastern beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) is considerably limited by an aggressive invasive shrub, pontic rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L.), in the Black Sea Region of Turkey. Therefore, the future character of the region’s forests is uncertain. The aim of this research was to evaluate the structure of beech forests with different management regimes of rhododedron and to determine the interaction among tree layer, rhododendron cover, and natural regeneration in Düzce Province using the FieldMap technology. The following variants of forests were compared: without intervention (control) and three and six years after rhododendron clearance. The results showed that tree density ranged between 175–381 trees ha−1 and stand volume between 331–589 m3 ha−1. The horizontal structure of the tree layer was mostly random, and the spatial pattern of natural regeneration was aggregated. Recruit density and height in the beech stands were significantly differentiated due to the influence of presence or absence of invasive rhododendron. Rhododendron cover ranged between 81%–97%, and woody stems amounted to 72,178–86,884 ha−1 in unmanaged forests. Canopy in the overstory did not have a significant effect on the density of regeneration and rhododendron cover. Tree layer had a significant negative influence on natural regeneration within a 4 m radius on the plots without rhododendron. However, on the plots with dense rhododendron cover, tree layer had a positive influence on regeneration within a 1.5 m radius. Natural regeneration density was significantly higher when rhododendron was cleared than the plots without intervention. On the plots without woody clearance, there was an insufficient regeneration (113–619 recruits ha−1); however, they had higher mean height compared to the sites without rhododendron. After three and six years of rhododendron clearance, the numbers of recruits in natural regeneration were 63,981 ha−1 and 105,075 ha−1, respectively. In conclusion, invasive spread of rhododendron was a limiting factor of the prosperous regeneration and tree species diversity, and manual clearance of rhododendron is recommended in managed beech forests of the study region.

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Influence of slope position, stand type and rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) on litter decomposition rates of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) and spruce [Picea orientalis (L.) Link]

European Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1007/s10342-009-0270-x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 128 (4) ◽

pp. 351-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Temel Sariyildiz ◽

Mehmet Küçük

Keyword(s):

Litter Decomposition ◽

Slope Position ◽

Decomposition Rates ◽

Fagus Orientalis ◽

Oriental Beech ◽

Rhododendron Ponticum ◽

Fagus Orientalis Lipsky ◽

Stand Type

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Sivas- Koyulhisar Orman (Fagus Orientalis Lipsky.) Toprakları ile Tarım Topraklarının Karbon Mineralizasyonu Yönünden Karşılaştırılması

Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology ◽

10.24925/turjaf.v9i11.2081-2086.4818 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 2081-2086

Author(s):

Ahu Kutlay ◽

Fikret Koçbulut ◽

Ahmet Demirbaş ◽

Tolga Karaköy

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Soils ◽

Carbon Mineralization ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Agricultural Fields ◽

Beech Forests ◽

Important Species ◽

Fagus Orientalis ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Fagus Orientalis Lipsky ◽

Ecological Differences

In this study, the dynamism of forest areas was tried to be determined by determining the ecological differences between the areas where Fagus orientalis Lipsky. (Eastern beech, Fagaceae), a very important species for forestry in Turkey, and the soils of agricultural fields. lime %, total salt %, pH, texture, field capacity %, C%, N%, C/N ratios, 30-day carbon mineralization of the lands of Eastern beech forests and agricultural fields, which are naturally formed in Sivas province Koyulhisar district, under controlled conditions (28°C, 80 humidity %) was determined by the respiration method, and two areas in two different ecosystems were compared. When the carbon mineralizations of eastern beech soils were examined seasonally, it was determined as 19.54>18.23>17.87>17.18 mg C(CO2)/100g DS/30 day in spring>autumn>summer>winter seasons, while it was determined as 14.46>13.87>13.68>13.65 mg C(CO2)/100g DS/30 day in autumn>summer>spring>winter seasons in agricultural soils, respectively. Significant relationships were found between the C%, N%, 30-day carbon mineralization cumulative values and % carbon mineralization rates between both areas.

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