Study of the influencing factors on the early snow damage in the natural forest stands (Case study: Patom district in Kheyrud forests)

In order to investigate the factors affecting damage caused by early snow in the compartment no. 10 in Patom district of Kheyrud forest research station, the sampling was conducted on a random grid (100 × 100 m) with 46 m 1000 circular sample plots. In each plot, effective factors including slope gradient of the plot, aspect, altitude (elevation), soil depth, diameter at breast height, and height of all tree species greater than 7.5 cm were recorded. Damages to trees were classified into four types including uprooting (tree throw), trunk fracture, crown fracture, and bending. The results showed that 28.1% of the trees were damaged, with damage of 3, 4, 10 and 11% for each type including uprooting (tree throw), trunk fracture, crown fracture, and bending, respectively. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the types of tree damage and some factors including aspect, slope, elevation, and soil depth. The highest percentage of tree damage occurred in the northern aspect, slope less than 15%, altitude of 330-380 m, and shallow soils depth, and the lowest occurred in the southern aspect. The damage on the eastern and western slopes was approximately similar. The highest and the lowest percentages of damage were related to alder and maple tree species, respectively. Thinning treatments affected the horizontal and vertical structure of the stands by reducing the slenderness coefficient of trees, which has a key role in reducing the severity of snow damage on trees, and improves tree and stand stability.