DEAD WOOD IN MANAGED BEECH FORESTS IN SERBIA

Dead wood in forests of Serbia hasn`t been studied so far, although it is an important component of forest eco-systems. Th is paper presents results of investigating volume, biomass, and carbon stock bound in the dead wood of beech high forests. Th e sample includes eleven pure beech stands selected in six forest regions. Th ey are all un-even-aged stands that have been managed for the last several decades, mostly under selection or group-selection. Th eir site class is I/II–III/IV. Th e altitude ranges from 400 to 1380 m. One stand belongs to submontane (Fagetum moesiacae submontanum B. Jov. 1967) and ten to montane (Fagetum moesiacae montanum B. Jov. 1953) beech forests. A systematic sample was used to determine the presence, quantity, diameter structure of volume, and state of dead wood considering its degree of decomposition both in standing and lying position. Sample plots of 500 m2, at a distance of 100 x 100 m were used as elements of the sample. Altogether 242 sample plots were established. Th e volume of aboveground dead wood was determined by applying familiar dendrometric methods, while the dry biomass was calculated on the basis of its volume and wood density at diff erent degrees of decomposition. Th e biomass of belowground dead wood i.e. roots of stumps and snags was obtained directly using the relevant regression equations. Th e quantity of the carbon bound in dead wood was calculated by multiplying dry biomass of dead wood by 0.5 coeffi cient. A simple and a stratifi ed sample were used for the purposes of estimating the av-erage and total volume, biomass, and carbon stock of dead wood. It was concluded that the average abovegroun