Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of plantations and natural forest at Darabkola, east of Mazandaran

The objective of this study was a comparative evaluation of 20-year old plantations of Alder (Alnus subcordata C.A. Mey.), Chestnut leaved Oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey.), Maple (Acer velutinum Bioss.) and Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis) with the adjacent mixed broad leaved stand from qualitative and quantitative point of view. The study area is located in Darabkola, east of Mazandaran province in the Caspian region. One sample plot, each 1 hectare was selected in every plantation as well as in the natural stand. A total of 5692 trees were measured by full callipering; the studied factores were diameter at breast height (dbh), height and qualitative characteristics of trees. Also the physico-chemical properties of soil were studied in all treatments. The differences of the studied factors between the treatments were significant, statistically (p>0.01). Analysis of quantitative characteristics showed that natural forest and plantation of Alder were the most promising followed by Maple and Chestnut leaved Oak. From the qualitative point of view, alder and maple plantations were the most promising stands, while the Cypress plantation showed the worst results