A Study of the Factors Effective on Sprouting of Oak Species in Marivan Forests (Case study: Doveyse forest)

This research was carried out in Doveyse Forest with an area of 660 hectares, located in north-east of Marivan Township, Kurdistan province. One hundred and three plots were established using a systematic random rectangular grid with sides of 150 × 300m. Quantitative parameters of oak stands, coppicing situation of oaks and plant cover were noted in the plots. Based on plant ecological groups' map and physiographical factors, site homogenious units were determined and then soil and litter samples taken from these units. The effect of physiographical factors including altitude, slope aspect and slope percent, some of the most important edaphical factors (totally 19 factors) and quantitative parameters of oak stands (totally 15 parameters) were analyzed using PCA. The results indicated that the most important factors in non-coppicing of Oak manna tree (Quercus persica) were pest damage and grazing. Phosphorous content in litter is the most determining factor in non-coppicing of Gall oak (Q.infectoria) while coppicing of Lebanon oak (Q.libani) is strongly affected with soil pH as well as by litter pH. In addition, coppicing of both Gall and Lebanon oaks decreases with increase in altitude.