ISSN 2756-3367
African Journal of Ecology and Ecosystems ISSN: 9428-167X Vol. 5 (9), pp. 001-008, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Plants canopy coverage at the edge of main communications network in Hyrcanian forests
Aidin Parsakhoo1*, Seyed Ataollah Hosseini2 and Mohammad Reza Pourmajidian2
1Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, P. O. Box #737, Mazandaran Province, Sari City, Iran.
2Department of Forestry, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Mazandaran Province, Sari City, Iran.
Accepted 23 April, 2018
Abstract
To investigate the plants canopy coverage on cut and fill slopes of Lat Talar forest roads in Hyrcanian zone, the systematic randomize sampling method with 60 parallelogram shape plots was used. Within each plot the herbaceous plants and regeneration of woody species were recognized and their canopy coverage was recorded in %. Results showed that the canopy coverage of herbaceous plants and regeneration on cut and fill slopes were 7.2 and 28.4%, respectively. Rubus hyrcanus L. had more canopy coverage at the edge of forest roads as compared with other species. Canopy coverage on fill and cut slopes with angles of 25 - 35°and 45 - 55° was more than angels of 35 - 45° and 55 - 65°, respectively. Reducing the cut slope angle is necessary for increasing the plant cover, as it was on the fill slopes.
Key words: Vegetation, canopy coverage, road edges, Hyrcanian forests.