The Effects of Some Ecological Factors on Myrtus Communis Distribution in Lorestan Province

Restoration planning of forest species necessitates knowledge of ecological attributes. Myrtle is one of the valuable species in Zagros forests that knowledge of ecological attributes is necessitated for restoring stands of this species.This study aimed to determine the effects of environmental factors on myrtle distribution in Lorestan province. Based on available information and forest surveying, 13 natural sites were identified. In each site, the most important ecological factors were measured. Soil samples were taken of 0-30 cm depth and physical and chemical properties such as soil texture, EC, pH, N, P and K were determined. Principal component analysis (PCA) method was used to analyze collected data. PCA results showed that first three components explain 68.2 % of variations. The first component explains 27.64% of variation and denotes to some of soil properties such as Na and Ec. The second component reflects soil N and P values and explains 20.93 % of variations and third component reveals the role of altitude on myrtle dispersion and explains 19.67% of variation. The result of this study showed that myrtle can establish in a wide range of soil salinity and therefore it can be assigned into intolerant halophyte.