Variation of Vegetation and Soil Properties in Temperate Forests after Single Selection Implementation (Case Study: Golband forest-Noshahr)

This study was performed in order to investigate the changes in vegetation and soil properties in compartment No.317 (managed forest) and No.318 (control forest) of Jamand district of Golband forest in Mazandaran (Noshahr). For this purpose, random-systematic sampling method with regular grid of 100×200 m was used to locate samples. The plot size was 400 m2 considering to tree and shrub species and in the center of each main plot, one 100 m2 subplot was set up for herb species. Estimate of percent cover of each plant species recorded by using of Braun-Blanquet scale. In center each of 100 m2 plots, 3 profiles in two depths (0-10 and 10-30 cm) were dug and soil samples were analyzed for physico-chemical properties of soil including pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, exchangeable potassium, bulk density, sand, silt and clay percent. Cluster analysis was used for classification of samples and CCA analysis was applied to determine the relationships between vegetation data and environmental variables. The results of t-student test showed that difference of averages of the measured soil variables were not significant in both compartments. Also based on the results cluster and CCA analysis found that vegetation was similar in two compartments and was not separable in distinct groups. Therefore, implementation of single-tree selection method after two periods hadn’t significant effect on vegetation composition as well as soil properties in managed forest in comparison with control forest.