Effects of understory cultivation on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of oak stands of Southern Zagros in Barm plain, Fars province

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of understory cultivation on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Quercus brantii Lindl and oak decline. For this purpose the Barm plain (east of Kazeroon city) where there is trees susceptible to drying, were selected. Then three conventional land use (land use with understory cultivation, land use without understory cultivation, land use with protected) were selected using topographic maps and field survey. For each land use, 30 rectangular sample plots (0.2 ha( were selected and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of trees were recorded. In order to better analysis, the decline of trees were classified to four classes (less than 25%, 25% to 50%, 50% to 75% and more than 75%) based on the percentage of decline. Data analysis showed that the most of dried trees was coppice type and most of decline was found in crown area as well as land use along with understory cultivation. Also the maximum number of dried trees observed in classes of more than 75% along with understory cultivation. While the dried trees were recorded 25% in land use with protected and without understory cultivation. Results of this research confirm that the understory cultivation has an important role in complete decline of trees and damage caused by secondary factors such as pests and diseases is more in the land use along with understory cultivation.