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Ecological and Biological Properties of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex L.) on the Island of Rab
Milan Oršanić
; Šumarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zavod za ekologiju i uzgajanje šuma, Svetošimunska 25 HR-10 000 Zagreb, HRVATSKA
Damir Drvodelić
; Šumarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zavod za ekologiju i uzgajanje šuma, Svetošimunska 25 HR-10 000 Zagreb, HRVATSKA
Damir Ugarković
; Šumarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zavod za ekologiju i uzgajanje šuma, Svetošimunska 25 HR-10 000 Zagreb, HRVATSKA
Sažetak
This paper deals with ecological and biological properties of Holm Oak trees (Quercus ilex L.) on the Island of Rab. Forest ecosystems are influenced by numerous local meteorological and climatic conditions. In spring 2006 four experimental plots (2x2 m), one in the middle forest (both seed and coppiced trees) and three in coppices of different age and structure, were established on the Island of Rab.
Rotronic hygromers for measuring air temperature (°C), relative air humidity (%), wet bulb temperature (°C) and dewpoint/frostpoint (ºC) were placed on two sites (middle forest and coppice). The values were measured from May 2006 to May 2007. Lux-meter was used for measuring relative light intensity. In 2006 soil humidity (%) was measured five times with Theta Probes model ML2x at the average depth of Holm Oak seedling rooting. On three occasions 30 Holm Oak seedlings were samples for root analysis. The scanner Epson Expression 10000XL and software WinRHIZO ProLA2400 for the analysis of washed roots were used to determine the total root length (cm), average root diameter (mm), volume (cm3), number of tips (pcs), forks (pcs) and crossings (pcs). In order to determine the natural mortality, the seedlings and young plants of Holm Oak were counted on ten occasions during the three years of research (in 2006, 2007 and 2008). The seedling heights were measured at the end of the germination phase and at the end of the first growing season.
Minimum air temperature in coppice was lower compared to the middle forest. Microclimatic conditions in coppice are less favorable for the growth and development of vegetation than those in the middle forest. Coppice has higher air temperature and lower relative air humidity compared to the microclimate in the middle forest. Large numbers of natural Holm Oak seedlings and young plants were recorded on all the four experimental plots, which can be attributed to favorable climatic factors influencing the yield on the Island of Rab. A large number of seedlings was obtained in coppice (480,000 – 1,190,000 pcs/ha) compared to the middle forest (465,000 pcs), which can be attributed to the age of the stand, i.e. the size of the fructifying trees and the shrub cover. There is a great variability between the four experimental plots with respect to the end of germination (4/7 – 3/10). The germination of Holm Oak seedlings in the middle forest reached its peak earlier (4 July 2006) than in the coppice (31 July 3 October), which implies the presence of better microclimatic site conditions. On some experimental plots Holm Oak acorns were germinating throughout 2006, which is an indicator of poor germination conditions. The key factor responsible for seed dormancy in this case was the lack of moisture in the soil. Statistically significant larger heights of Holm Oak seedlings were measured in the middle forest compared to the heights in the coppice. The mortality of young Holm Oak plants was also by 8.98% higher in the middle forest than in the coppice. The mortality of Holm Oak seedlings and young plants between 3 October 2006 and 30 January 2008 was 52.35%. The same trend of seedling and young plant mortality was recorded on all the experimental plots. After 27 months a large number of natural young plants of very good vitality survived on all the plots.
A negative and very high correlation between the root length and average root diameter was obtained for Holm Oak seedlings and young plants (r=–0.7884). With respect to the measurement date there was no significant difference in root volume, which means that in the 20 months of research there was no significant increase in root volume of Holm Oak seedlings and young plants in the soil.
Ključne riječi
Holm Oak; microclimate; growth form; seedlings; young plants; root
Hrčak ID:
68004
URI
Datum izdavanja:
8.4.2011.
Posjeta: 3.198 *