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Growth of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in the Region of Yundola Training and Experimental Forest Range, Bulgaria



Author(s)

Krasimira Petkova¹, Yavor Poryazov² and Raisa Petrova³

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6264/2015.04.006

1. Silviculture Department, University of Forestry, 10 St. Kliment Ochridski Blvd., Sofia 1797, Bulgaria
2. Forest Management Department, University of Forestry, 10 St. Kliment Ochridski Blvd., Sofia 1797, Bulgaria
3. State Forest Service—Office Platchkovtsi, 17 Balkan Str., Platchkovtsi 5360, Bulgaria

The aim of the article was to study the growth of Douglas-fir plantations in the region of the Training Experimental Forest Enterprise, Yundola (Central South Bulgaria). The study sites were three Douglas-fir plantations, ranging between 50 and 55 years of age at altitudinal range between 1,400 m and 1,600 m above sea level (masl). The mean height, diameter at breast height, site class, stem volume as well as the mechanical resistance (H/D ratio) of Douglas-fir were measured for each plantation. The results showed that Douglas-fir had the best height growth of the studied plantations on slope facing South at altitude 1,600 masl and Douglas-fir with age 55 years old reached a mean height of 32.4 m. The average diameter at breast height of the studied plantations reaches approximately 30 cm, which shows that they are suitable for large scale wood harvesting. The average stem volume of Douglas-fir in the observed plantations up to age of 55 is within the range of 400-600 m³/ha, with an average annual volume increment from 7 m³/ha to 12 m³/ha each year. The high index of mechanical resistance (H/D ratio) indicated a risk for abiotic damages, which implicated the need for the immediate implementation of felling.

Diameter of breast height, Douglas-fir plantations, mean height, H/D ratio, stem volume.