Graphical Estimation of the Quadratic Mean Diameter for fine Woody Debris in the Hyrcanian Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) Forests of Kheiroodkenar, Nowshahr

Vahedi, A.A.; Fallah, A; Nazariani, N

doi:10.22034/ijf.2023.360214.1888

Graphical Estimation of the Quadratic Mean Diameter for fine Woody Debris in the Hyrcanian Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) Forests of Kheiroodkenar, Nowshahr

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

A.A. Vahedi ¹

A Fallah ²

N Nazariani ³

¹ Assistant Prof., Natural resources Research Dept. Mazandaran Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sari, Iran

² Prof., Dept. of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

³ Postdoctoral Researcher of Forestry, Dept. of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Iran

10.22034/ijf.2023.360214.1888

Abstract

Introduction: Fine woody debris (FWDs) is considered as one of the prominent carbon sinks in forest ecosystems because of having chief roles for carbon cycle and green economy in association with their contribution for carbon sequestration. Therefore, estimating the FWDs carbon stock with high accuracy and certainty is essential in management. The goal of this study was to use quadratic mean diameter (QMD) of the FWDs in order to increase accuracy of their carbon storage estimation.
Material and Methods: The plots with areas of 20 × 20 m² were randomly located within one hectare of pure beech and mixed beech (Beech-hornbeam) stands in the Hyrcanian forests in Kheiroodkenar, Nowshahr. In line with the sides of square plots that were considered as transects (16 transects in total), the diameter of woody debris intersecting the transects was measured. Three diameter classes (including 1-2.5, 2.5-4.5, 4.5 -7.5 cm) were separated on the basis of diameter distribution in the stands. Using graphical estimation based on fitting power function of FWD diameter distribution, area under curve of each class was calculated to obtain QMD. The slope of linear logarithm model was used to calculate the area under curve of the stands that was obtained from logarithmic conversion of fitted power function.
Results: Considering the negative fitting slope in pure beech stands (b=-1.57) and mixed stands (b=-2.03), the results indicated higher frequency of FWD distribution within the diameter classes in pure beech stands. QMD values of each diameter class in each stand had higher values with no significant differences compared to arithmetic mean and median of diameter distribution. The values were 1.63, 3.47 and 5.73 cm in the predefined classes, respectively, in pure beech stand and were 1.57 and 3.36 cm in the first and second classes, respectively, in the mixed stand.
Conclusion: Although the difference was not significant, it is evident that the estimation of biomass and carbon stock using QMD values in computational relationships based on line transect (parameter obtained by multiplication of number of FWDs in each diameter class and square of QMDs) had higher precision and it is expected that in in large scales (compartment, district, division) show higher values.

Keywords

Carbon storage

Diameter distribution

Fine woody debris (FWDs)

Kheiroodkenar beech forests

Power function

Quadratic mean diameter (QMD)

Subjects

Ecology and Silviculture

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