Evaluation of natural regeneration studies of oak, beech and hornbeam stands in Belgrad Forest

With this study, the aim was silvicultural evaluation of success in natural regeneration studies and growth performances of seedlings in Kurtkemeri Forest Sub-District Directorate that is under the supervision of Istanbul Regional Directorate of Forestry, Bahcekoy Department of Forestry. For this purpose, 30 sample stands having size of 20 x 20 m were determined in districts 15,38, and 39; which consist of sessile oak, sessile oak-oriental beech, and sessile oak- hornbeam stands, respectively. Diameter, heigth, number of individuals, and degrees of canopy were measured in trees of those sample stands. In addition, 2 sub-sample areas were determined in sample stands and number of seedlings, root-collar diameter, and heigth measurements were carried out for these areas. On the other part, light intensity measurements of sessile oak- oriental beech seedlings were carried out. Sessile oak forms half of the 1-year-old seedlings while the other half was formed by oriental beech. Root-collar diameter, heigth, root-collar surface area development of oriental beech seedlings was higher than sessile oak seedlings in percentages of 21, 29 and 60, respectively. Height of seedlings was increasing as the distance from seed tree increases. 72% of 5-year-old seedlings were formed by sessile oak while the rest was hornbeam. Root collar diameter and height of hornbeam seedlings were more than twice as oak seedlings. Moreover, average root-collar surface area of hornbeam seedlings were 5 times higher than oak seedlings. 62% of 11-year-old seedlings were formed by oriental beech and the rest was sessile oak. Growth characteristics of oriental beech and sessile oak were similar. Root-collar diameter of sessile oak was measured 2,4 mm when seedlings were 1-year-old, it increased to 18,4 mm when seedlings were 11-year-old, while heigth changed from 11,8 cm to 168,1 cm. When seedlings were 1-year-old, root- collar diameter and heigth of oriental beech seedlings were 2,8 mm and 15,2 cm, respectively, while these values were 17,2 mm and 175,3 cm when they are at the age of 11. In conclusion, it could be claimed that natural regeneration in these stands were successful and adequate amount of seedlings were obtained. In 1-year-old seedlings, oriental beech has higher growth rate than sessile oak although this difference vanished when they grow up to 11-year-old. Moreover, taking into account that hornbeam grows faster than oak, creating the danger of strangulating oak species; it is suggested that oak should be given diameter-heigth superiority in the mixed stands of sessile oak-hornbeam. Also, there were more seedlings than needed in the stands. Especially for 5 and 11-year-old seedlings, for seedling growth, it is dangerous to have more than 8 individuals per square meter. It is suggested that maintenance of seedlings in these stands should be controlled without delay. Keywords: Belgrad Forest, Growth, Natural regeneration, Oriental beech, Oak.