Structural characteristics of oak coppice stands of Marivan Forests

Structural characteristics, as the basic characters for managements of forests stands, were studied in Rikhalan coppice forest, southeast Marivan, Kurdistan province. The selected site is a good model of utilized stands of northern Zagros forests. A quadratic plot with an area of 0.5 ha were selected, then structural characteristics of stands including species composition, origin of trees (seed or shoot), number of sprouts in sprout-clumps, diameter of sprouts at 0.5m height, height of four sprouts in each sprout-clump, as well as the largest and smallest diameters of sprout-clumps crowns were measured on all trees. Furthermore, basal area, crown area and diameter of sprout-clumps were calculated. Based on results, the stand type was pure type of Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii) and all of trees were in coppice form. Low values of the mean diameter of sprouts (5.4 cm) and sprout-clumps (20.5 cm) showed that the studied stand was young. The mean value of sprout heights were low (lower than 4 m), which illustrate a one-storey stand. Diameter distribution of the studied stand showed an even-aged form. Furthermore, the best regression model for height-diameter curve of the stand was quadratic model. Totally, the studied stand was pure with no woody species diversity and with a little structure diversity, so its sustainability could be considered as unstable. Silvicultural activities such as tending operations and enrichment of the stand are recommended.