محمود طالبی

This study was conducted in the Zagros forests to investigate and monitor the status of elements in the soil and their absorption in areas with and without oak decline. Two plots, each with 100 trees, were randomly established in the south direction in the areas of "Sama Castle" and "White Mud," representing the decline and control (without decline) sites. In the oak decline plot, five healthy and five declining trees were selected, while only five healthy trees were chosen in the control plot. Selection of healthy and declining trees in the first year was done selectively and with proper distribution throughout the sample. In the following years, soil and leaf samples were collected from the selected trees. Soil samples were collected under the tree crowns at two depths (0-30 cm and 30-60 cm). Additionally, 20 leaves per tree were sampled in late July and early August. The results showed that the amount of phosphorus in the leaves of trees in the both decline and control sites was significantly different at a 99% confidence level. As the intensity of drought increased, the amount of phosphorus in the leaves also increased. Soil moisture was estimated at 5.74% in the decline site and 7.14% in the control site, with this difference being statistically significant. The amount of calcium in the soil of the control area was approximately 1.5 times greater than in the area experiencing decline. The results of this research, focusing on soil characteristics related to oak decline, can provide important data for the oak decline information system in the Zagros forests of Iran.

Investigating the growth and ecological characteristics of trees through dendrochronology will provide essential messages for reconstructing climate models for the past and future. This research investigated the historical, ecological, and climatic characteristics of the Brant's oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces. A typical single-stem Q. brantii was selected and cut. Then, a disk sample was prepared. Dry weight and carbon content were measured using the combustion method. The number and width of the disc's annual rings were measured. In climate studies, temperature and precipitation anomalies were used. In addition to extracting all the morphological characteristics, this research showed that the amount of carbon stored in different organs increases with the woody tissue of the plant, and the amount of moisture in the plant organ decreases. The measurement of annual rings showed that the average growth diameter of the studied oak tree is 3.9 mm. The relationship between temperature anomaly and tree diameter growth data showed that the temperature variable has comprehensive control over the geographical distribution of the oak, and the Q. brantii has a more robust response to temperature instead of precipitation variables.

Zagros forests are one of the most important vegetation areas in Iran that play an important role in protecting water and soil resources. Over the past decade, the decline of some tree species in these forests, including oak, has raised serious concerns about the endangerment of these forests. Climate change, site poverty, absorption of heavy metals from dust, reduced nutrient uptake and site factors are an important factor of this phenomenon. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of nutrition spraying on controlling the drying process of oak trees (Quercus brantii Lindl.) and compensating their needs through foliar application.

This research was carried out in Monj region of Lordegan city in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Thirty oak trees (including 15 coppice and 15 Single stem trees) were selected in one of the areas with drought. Trees in each vegetative form were divided into three health classes including healthy, diback and drought up to 50% of the crown. In total, this study had three treatments including vegetative form (two levels), health (three levels), sampling time (two levels) and five replications. Foliar spraying (three per thousand) was carried out during the full growth of leaves from early June to July with an interval of 10 days in three shifts.

The results showed that the amount of high macronutrient elements including potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen at the beginning of the growing season were 1.22, 0.27 and 0.998 percent, against the end of the growing season that were 0.17, 0.24 and 1.11 percent, respectively, that was a significant difference at the level of 95% confidence. The amount of these elements in coppice and Single stem trees in healthy trees was more than two classes of drought, but this difference was not significant statistically.

In general, macronutrients can stop the decay of oak trees by increasing the ability of trees to withstand environmental stresses. In between, the role of phosphorus and potassium was important in increasing the resistance of trees to environmental stresses and stopping the drying process.

Indigenous knowledge is the accumulated knowledge, skills, and techniques of a particular community that results from their direct interaction with the environment that should be respected as a source of environmental knowledge. Indigenous knowledge is an important part of the life of local forest communities and plays an important role in their lives. In this research we tried to record the indiginous knoeledge of gum extraction of wild pistachio in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Snowball sampling method was used to collect information. Data were recorded using semi-structured interviews and by writing information, video recording of events, and taking pictures. Information was analyzed by editing documents, integrating, transforming and highlighting information. The results of this study showed that the local people consider the pistachio tree as an economic plant and strongly avoid from cutting and damaging it, and even try to protect and develop it. Gum is the important byproduct of pistachio tree and gum extraction takes place in different stages including tree selection, rifting, put the bowl, double and triple rifting, purification and cooking the gum. Medicinal use of gum is the most common use of this product. Local resident believe to the technical and principled use of pistachio trees.

Traditional knowledge is knowledge that is obtained due to the experience and traditions of the local people of a region and using the method of trial and error in a laboratory called nature. The identification of traditional forest-related knowledge has become very important in recent decades, especially in the field of achieving sustainable forest management and with the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable local, regional, national and global development. The purpose of this study is to identify the traditional knowledge related to harvest of acorns of Quercus brantii Lindl.

This research was carried out in two local regions of Chigo and Bidleh located in Monj section of Lordegan city in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. The required information was obtained from the local community by reputation approach and using 56 interviews. The role of acorns in formal studies was also examined separately using library studies to evaluate the traditional knowledge of acorn harvesting of these trees. Finally, using qualitative evaluation and analysis of effects and consequences, ten criteria for measuring traditional and formal knowledge and the difference between the two knowledge were explained.

Among other uses of acorns which is almost common in most rural households in the study area the use of oak seeds (acorns) to prepare various muskets is common. The various uses of oak that are commonly used by local people living in the Zagros, such as: oak sap, oak kebab and boiled oak. Also, a brown colored juice called Qazūlah honey is formed on the fruit cup in late summer and early autumn, which is called "Man Shocked".

The results showed that since a formal knowledge can be based on scientific needs, the speed of information production, the rule of scientific regulation, scientific accuracy and media communication in line with research related to the seeds of Quercus brantii trees can be the benefits of formal knowledge. In this process (similar to other formal knowledge), but on the other hand, traditional knowledge due to adaptation to local conditions and social acceptance can provide the basis for participatory management in the Zagros forests.

What the Local people of forest ecosystem design for different purposes and in order to meet their needs and wants is in the broadest sense of the traditional structures of local communities. The purpose of this study is to fully identify the production structures of local communities in the forests of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. At the first, this identification will help to improve the role of local communities in the forests of the Zagros and secondly, by analyzing the production pattern in this production system, the best conditions for the continuation are introduced and the grounds for improving the conditions are determined for this continuation. In this study, snowball sampling method was used to collect information in the local community. In the section of identifying production structures, the most important knowledge and environmental components that constitute the input of this system were described. In the analysis of production pattern, while introducing appropriate criteria in evaluating the production process, the necessary requirements in order to improve the production pattern among the local communities of Zagros forests are introduced. The results of this study showed that among the three production patterns (craft, lean and agile), the traditional structures of local communities are the most suitable for the craft production pattern. While the agile production pattern is the best model of the production process in most production evaluation criteria. It is necessary to change from craft to agile model, considering environmental uncertainties and leveraging the effect of information on Zagros forest management.

In forest ecosystems, forest production, storage and carbon flow are calculated based on biomass measurements. The aim of this study was to compare the biomass and carbon stock of the above-ground, litter and soil in the oak decline and control plots in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Four one-hectare sample plots were selected in the healthy (control) and declined stands of oak. Then quantitative information of all trees were measured. Allometric equations were used to calculate the above-ground biomass and carbon stock. Ten microplots were established in each sample plot and all litters were collected. Wet and dry weights and carbon content of the litter samples were measured. To measure soil organic carbon, five soil samples were taken in each sample plot. The results showed that above-ground biomass in the control and decline sample plots were 31.4 and 15.8 tons/hectare respectively. Also, the average of the above-ground carbon stock in the control and decline plots were 15.1 and 7.7 tons/hectare, respectively. The mean of litter carbon in the control plots was 1584.1 kg/ha and in the decline plots was 1148.6 kg/ha. The amount of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and soil moisture content showed a significant difference between the control and decline plots. The results of this study indicated significant changes in biomass, carbon stock and soil in declined stands of oak which may cause irreparable damage to the Zagros forest ecosystem, in the long term. This issue highlights the need for the attention of managers and decision makers of natural resources, regarding the provision of management solutions to control this phenomenon.

The phenomenon of oak decline is one of the most important current problems in the Zagros forests. Lack of nutrients and differences in nutrient uptake between healthy Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) and trees affected by decline is one of the main causes of dryness of these trees. Tree nutrition can be considered as a management strategy to solve this problem and stop the decay of oak trees. Nutrient spraying is one of the common methods of plant nutrition that meets the needs of the plant in a short time. In this research, the similar trees of two forms (coppice and seed-origin) were selected in the Monj area of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. In each form, trees were divided into three levels of health (Healthy, dieback and crown drought up to 50%). Five similar trees by dimension were selected in each level of health (totally 30 trees). Before and after nutrient spraying, the quality characteristics of the trees were recorded and a mixed sample of leaves was prepared from them. Nutrient spraying were done at full time of leaves from early June to July with an interval of 10 days in three shifts. The results showed that the amount of micronutrients elements in the leaves of trees at the beginning of the growing season was significantly higher than the end of the season. Among the micronutrients elements, the amount of boron in the leaves of healthy trees was more than decaying trees. Qualitative evaluation of trees showed that the progression of dieback has stopped in most of the studied trees. Feeding of decaying trees and increasing the possibility of nutrient uptake from the soil can be effective in stopping the decay of trees.

Today, a considerable amount of Zagros forests is faced with the phenomenon of oak decline. Environmental stresses have caused the weakness of the trees, imbalance in food and water absorption, and eventually the deterioration of trees. Site factors play an important role in the resistance of trees to biotic and abiotic stresses. This research was conducted to evaluate the reaction of health and non-health Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) trees to nutrients absorption in different aspects and elevations in the Helen forest of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province. Three transects were considered in two main aspects (North and South) of the study area. On each transect, three plots (with an area of 1000 m2) were designed in three elevation levels (800-1500, 1800-2000, and above 2000m a.s.l) randomly. Leaves of five health and non-health trees were gathered to measure the nutrient elements. This research was conducted as a factorial experiment in randomized complete block design and the mean values of variables were compared using Duncan test. The results showed that the effect of geographical aspects was significant on N and Ca uptake. Also, the difference in the absorption of essential nutrients in leaves of health and non-health oak trees were significant. The absorption of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in the leaves of the trees in the northern aspects was higher than the southern aspects. Health trees also absorbed more of these elements compared to non-health trees.

In this research, important habitats of the species of salix in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province were identified. Then, one-year branches were produced for the production of cuttings. Then the seedlings were transferred to the main field of the project and surveyed for 8 years. Height, DBH and diameter of the canopy were measured. Also pests and diseases of the trees were investigated continually. The results showed that five species including Salix excelsa S.G.Gmelin, Salix acmophylla Boiss., Salix alba L, Salix elbursensis Boiss and Salix-issatisensis were identified in this province. Quantitative studies showed that Salix alba L (206) with 7.86 m height and 16.12 cm DBH and Salix alba L (208) with 18.66 m2 of canopy surface were better than other species and have high resistance to cold and frost. The results of pests and diseases also indicated that 8 species of pest were existing on all Salix species.

This research was performed in order to survey quantitative characteristics of Pistacia atlantica trees on gum production in the forests of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Province. At the first step, two elevation classes (1200-1600 m and 1600-2000 m) were choosen and trees selected in different DBH classes. Biometric characteristics of wild pistachio trees such as DBH, crown diameter, total height and bole height were used to assess the impact of gum production on wild pistachio trees. The gum was extracted from selected trees separately and weighted. The results showed that the mean of gum production is 571.9 g in each pistachio tree. Also, significant difference at 5% level between the factors of DBH and total height and at 1% level between crowns diameters were seen. The tree gender also showed a significant effect on the amount of gum production, so that the average production of gum in male and female trees were 608.1 and 354.8 g respectively. The results showed that there is no significant difference between amounts of gum production in different bole height.

Construction of road netwok has a great important in every community. In one hand it improves the socio- economic development, on the other hand it has a great influence on destruction of natural resoures and soil erosion. In order to study the impact of road construction on forest, the Bazoft basin, asub-basin of Karoon watershed, was selected in Chahar mahal and Bakhtiari province. For this purpose, the length of all roads and the width of the destructed area were measured. Besides, the road plan in combination with slope, direction, geology and forest typology informations was prepared using GIS. Results indicated that 661.08 ha of natural resources area was destructed by road construction, which contains 420.19 ha of forests, 198.97 ha of rangelands and 41.92 ha of agricultural lands. A total of 101 cases of landslide was assessed along the road network in the studied region. In other words, 6735m of road length (3.8%) has been moved because of landslide.