Diameter-based biomass prediction and assement of leaf area: Sapwood ratio for eastern beach (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in Duzce province

The relationship between leaf surface area and sapwood varies among species and growing conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between leaf surface area and sapwood of eastern beech in the inland part of Duzce located in western Black Sea climatic region. The sites were selected in Asar Forest Management Chiefship of the Duzce Forest Management Directorate located in Elmacık mountain series on southern part of Duzce ValleyIn July-August, 2009 sample trees were selected from 27 units of Forest Management Chiefship. The total of 30 sample trees with the diameters at breast height (dbh) between 15-40 cm were selected for the study. Once the sample trees was fallen-down their dbh, height, height to crown base, crown-height etc. were recorded. Then trunk, live and dead branches were separated with a chain-saw. These tree components were weighted in the field then from each components three sub-samples were taken to the lab to determine the moisture conditions. The belowground part of the trees was sampled using pickaxes and an excavator.Once the samples were brought to the lab, they were oven dried at 65 0C until the weight was stabilized. Using these dry-weight ratios, the biomasses of the tree components (trunk, branch, leaf and root) were calculated.To estimate the amount of the leaf, the spurs from each branch were clipped and placed in nylon-mash bags then weighed in the field. From each bag about three kg of three sub-samples were brought to the lab. In the lab, each leaf was plucked to separate the leaf and woody parts of the spurs. From each sub-samples, projected leaf area of 7-8 leaves were measured using a leaf area scanner (ADC, Bioscientific Ltd. Area-meter, AM-300). Then the weight of the same samples was also recorded to determine the relationship between the area and weight of the samples.To determine the sap-wood area 5 cm thick disks were sampled at dbh and crown base on each tree. Diameter and bark thickness of each disk were recorded and sap wood areas were calculated as cm2. The relationship between sap-wood and leaf-surface area were determined with linear regression analysis.Analysis of data indicated that there was a linear positive relationship (R2= 0.7674) between total above- and below-ground biomass and dbh of beech trees. The biomass of the trunk was also positively and linearly related (R2= 0.7075) to the dbh.The results of the analysis also indicated that the sap-wood area and projected leaf area has a positive linear relationship (R2= 0.157) for eastern beech. However, the effects of tree height on this relationship was not tested in the current study since the height of the sample trees were such a narrow range between 15-25 m. For the future studies this height range can be increased to estimate the height effects on hydraulic conductance and leaf surface area sustained by the sapwood area.