Establishment and growth of direct- seeding of Quercus castaneifolia affected by light intensity and weed competition

The present study was carried out with considering the problem of Quecus castaneifolia (C.A.Meyer) natural regeneration in Caspian forests and the key rule of light and vegetation competition (with dominant species of grass) in growth and establishment. For this target, homogenous, sound acorns were collected from a mature tree and directly sown in an open area of Caspian plain forest, Noor region (15 m a.s.l.). The experimental design was based on factorial and completely randomized blocks with cleaning treatment (weed removal, weed competition or control) and light treatment (full light and 40% shade). To make a shadow, the wooden network with 100 cm in height was applied. Results at the end of third growth season revealed that under weed competition, height growth, collar diameter and number of branches of Q. castaneifolia seedlings were significantly decreased but survival did not differ. With increasing light intensity, number of branch was significantly increased, but no significant difference obtained in survival rate, height growth and collar diameter growth. Survival did not decrease from 86.4% in competition with weed and from 90.6% in full light. It is deduced that growth and establishment of Q. castaneifolia in open areas, like in shaded places, has been successful. So, it can be suggested that direct seeding of Q. castaneifolia is a suitable method for restoration of degraded and non-regenerated areas in some lowland forests of northern Iran. In these conditions to reduce competition in early years it is better to use weeding practices around the seedling following direct seeding.