PJB-2017-628
ONSET OF CANOPY CLOSURE FOR BLACK PINE, TURKISH RED PINE AND SCOTS PINE FORESTS
FERHAT KARA
Abstract
Canopy closure plays an important role in regeneration and management activities in forestry. Thus, determining the density at which canopy closure occurs is vital for the success of silvicultural treatments. Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.), black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests are usually managed at a density that is near or below the canopy closure. Residual stand density during the management of these species is commonly described by stand basal area (m2 ha1) (BA), however, the BA levels for the canopy closure have not been clearly indicated for these species. Therefore, in this study, the minimum density for the onset of canopy closure (DOCC) was determined for Turkish red pine, black pine and Scots pine forests. DOCC values were compared across the species. For the DOCC, the maximum tree area that a tree can occupy under open-grown conditions was used. The DOCC curves of black pine and Scots pine seem to similar, but, canopy closure in Turkish red pine forests occurs with less trees per hectare for a given average tree diameter. With the DOCC curves created in this study, regeneration and tending activities will be more practical and effective in these forests.
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