An Investigation of the Adaptation of the Most Important Conifers of the World at Moderate Altitude of Neka Forests (Vanamak)

The aim of this design is to introduce the most successful exotic species for forest Plantation Projects. The trial was conducted in 1992 at middle altitude of Neka forest in Mazandaran Province of I. R. Iran (North Forests), under compeletly Randomized Block with 3 replicates and 13 treatments (Species and provenances of conifers). The treatments consisted of nine species, including: (Pseudotsuga menzeisii (M.) F., Pinus sylvestris L., Abies nordmaniana (Stev) Spach, Abies bornmulleriana Matf, pinus nigra Arn.ssp austriaca, Larix deciduas Mill, Picea abies (L.) Karst, Cedrus deodara (D.Don) G.Don and Pinus ponderosa Laws. The species growth characteristics were measured after 16 years (1993-2008), including survival, total height, collar diameter, breast height diameter and quality. Physical and chemical properties of soil were determined and climate characteristics were identified. The statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between the species in relation to their qualitative and quantitave parameters. The results showed that Pinus sylvestris provenances (Yugoslavia and Armenia origins) were the most promising treatments and pinus nigra Arn.ssp austriaca, Pinus ponderosa Laws and Picea abies (L.) Karst (Kelardasht and Ladjim origins) were the second promising treatments, respectively.