Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of initial planting density onabove- and below-ground biomass in 25 years old oriental beech stands located in Hopa, Artvin, Turkey. The initial spacings used in this study were 0.7 x 2.0 m ( high planting density) and 2.0 x 2.0 m (low planting density). To analyse the planting density response of trees of different sizes (diameter), the sample trees within each stand density class were classified into four dbh classes (dbh1, dbh2, dbh3, dbh4) according to their diameter at the time of measurement. In each planting density stems, basal area, volume, aboveground biomass and C showed significant differences among diameter classes. In high density stand dbh2 (5.0 - 9.9 cm) had the highest basal area, volume, biomass and C. While, these measured data were the highest in db3 (10.0 - 14.9 cm) in low density stand. Although volume and aboveground biomass showed significant differences in diameter classes in each planting density, they were not affected by planting density. In high planting density dbh2 trees with a diameter of 0 - 4.9 cm had the highest volume (52 m³ ha^-1), above-ground biomass (7.7 ton ha^-1) and C (3.4 ton ha^-1), whereas in low planting density dbh3 with a diameter of 5.0 - 9.9 cm had the highest volume (46 m³ ha^-1), biomass (6.22 ton ha^-1) and C (2.80 ton ha^-1). However, stand basal area, belowground root biomass and C was higher in high planting density stand than in low planting density stand.

Key words: Biomass, growth, initial spacing, oriental beech, root mass.