Investigation on success of man-made forests in southern slopes of Alborz, a case study: Roudehen

In this study two species of Cupressus arizonica and Cedrus deodara were planted in 2001 with spacing of 3x3m in the cold and montane steppes of Roudehen region, located in 40 km of east of Tehran. The elevation of the area is 1900 m.a.s.l. on south-west aspect and moderate slopes with 10 to 30% inclination on alkaline soils with sandy texture and hard pan in lower layers. Randomized-systematic sampling was done in circular 1000 m2 plots with a network of 100 × 100 m. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of all trees in the sample plots were studied. Results indicate that diameter at breast height of Cypress trees varied between 2 and 18 cm while that of Cedar trees varied between 3 and 12cm. Height of Cypress trees were measured between 1.5 and 9 m, whereas that of Cedar trees were between 1.5 and 5.6 m. The differences of mean diameter and height of Cypress trees within different plots were statistically significant. The survival rate of trees was calculated 74% for Cedar trees and 76% to 99% for Cypress trees in different plots. Most of the trees were vital and had single stem, straight trunk with symmetric crown. Frequency of semi-vital individuals among Cedar trees was higher. Adaptation and survival of trees are more important than wood production in plantations of dry and semi-dry steppic regions.