The Effect of inventory method, and the size and shape of plots on quantifying structure of Quercus brantii Lindl coppice forests

Quantification of forest structure is one of the most important factors in sustainable management. The aim of this study was to compare the survey method and the effect of area and shape of sample plots in quantifying the structure of oak forests in the middle Zagros. To that end, an area of 30ha in the forests of Qhale-Gol Khorramabad was identified and a complete inventory was conducted. The data were entered into the geographic information system (GIS) environment in the form of information layers, and then, based on the objectives of the research, a regular random grid with specific dimensions of 100x100m and with an intensity of 10%, 25 sample plots (circle and square shape) were taken. In addition, to investigate the effect of the area of the sample plots on the structural characteristics of the forest, square plots of 25, 50, 75 and 100 were randomly taken with an intensity of 10%. According to the Mann-Whitney test, the shape of the sample plots had no significant effect on the results, and the dominance and differentiation indices in all methods had the same results. However, the area of the plots and their distribution had an effect on the results of the two indices of Mingling and Uniform angle. For the Mingling of 50 to 100 are plots and according to the Uniform angle index, 12 and 25 are plots had a significant difference from the average of the society. Nevertheless, no apparent difference was observed in the range of values and classes of any of the structural indices. according to this, all examined methods and sample plots have an excellent ability to describe the structure. In the case of more sensitive indicators such as Uniform angle and Mingling, the error can be reduced by applying corrective methods such as changing the number of neighbors.