Investigation Results of Cluster Afforestation at the 9th Years of Oriental Spruce (Picea orientalis L.) in the Subalpine Zone in Galyan Valley

In this study 9th year results of oriental spruce cluster afforestation working which was constructed by saplings obtained from seeds gathered from four different location and three different zones (treeline, timberline and subtimberline) were evaluated. Cluster afforestation of eastern spruce (Picea orientalis L.) in subalpine zone (2000 m) of Galyan valley of Trabzon province was selected as the research area. Some morphological characteristics of saplings as sapling height, terminal shoot length, root collar diameter, subterminal shoot number and survival percentages in clusters were calculated and differences in terms of growing environment and seed tree were investigated. The seed tree 17 located in Atkoyağı Plateau in timberline has shown the best development performance in terms of sapling height and survival percentage (mean sapling height is 44,78 cm and the survival percentage is % 6.47). However, the seed tree 21 located in Aktaş Village in subtimberline has shown the best performance in terms of root collar diameter (mean sapling root collar diameter is 17,96 mm). In order to evaluate the success of high mountain afforestation, potted saplings that produced by seeds gathered from the suitable origins should be used. These seedlings should be transported to the land by cluster afforestation works where they may have the best development tendency. However, long-term growth tendency of the clusters in case of the application form in the study area which is the first so-called cluster afforestation work in Turkey should be evaluated. Key Words: Oriental Spruce, Cluster Afforestration, Sapling Attributes, Percentage of Survival.