Full Length Research Paper

Effects of leaf area of downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.), common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and boxelder (Acer negundo L.) seedling plants on diameter, height, volume and weight increments

Nuri Oner¹* and Meriç Çakır²

¹Cankiri Karatekin University, Faculty of Forestry, 18200, Cankiri-Turkey.

²Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry, 34473, Istanbul-Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: nurioner@gmail.com. Tel.: +90376 212 2757.

Fax: +90 376 213 6983.

Abbreviations: DO, Downy oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.); CA, common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.); B, boxelder (Acer negundo L.)

Accepted 13 July, 2009

In this study, the effects of the leaf area (l.a) and leaf area index (l.a.i) values on diameter, height and weight increments for various forest tree seedlings in Cankiri Kenbag forest nursery was investigated. 30 seedlings of 3 tree species which are downy oak (DO) (2+0) (Quercus pubescens Willd.), common ash (CA) (2+0) (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and boxelder (B) (2+0) (Acer negundo L.) were examined. The volume parameters of the seedlings [diameter (mm), height (cm), leaf area (mm²), stem and leaf weights (g)] were measured. ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests were used in order to determine the different groups with regard to volume and volume parameters. According to the results, there were significant differences between B and CA with regard to lead area index and diameter and height increment, between CA and DO with regard to leaf area index and height increment. A significant difference has been found between B and DO and between CA and DO with regard to volume increment in individual leaf area. Also, another significant difference between semi-shade tolerant and light demanding tree species with regard to the volume increment effect of the leaf area (1 m²).

Key words: Boxelder, common ash, downy oak, leaf area, leaf area index.