Effects of cover clearance and soil preparation on regeneration success in two oriental spruce stands in Giresun-Bulancakk Pasakonagi series

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of seeding cutting in seed year and non-seed year on the regeneration success of oriental spruce stands. The study was carried out in Giresun-Paşakonağı Forestry Management Administration on 20 and 21 regeneration compartment. Seed cuttings were done in 20 compartment in 2014 non-seed year and in 21 compartment in 2015 seed year. In 2015, seed traps were placed in the fields before the seeds were dispersed and the average amount of seed dispersed was determined. In the years 2016 and 2017, youth counts were made in the sample areas and survival rates were determined. In 2015, which is the year of seeding, it was determined that on average 3 616 667 seeds of oriental spruce were distributed in the regeneration areas. In the first regeneration census in spring of 2016, it was determined that the number of seeds were 92 840 seed/ha in the area cut in 2014 and 143 704 seed/ha in the area cut in 2015. By the end of autumn of 2017, there were 30 % and 47.1 % loss of regeneration in the areas cut in 2014 and 2015, respectively. There was a statistically significant similarity in seedling amounts between spring of the year 2016, spring and autumn of the year 2017 (p> 0.05), while significant differences between the mortality rates of seedlings (p <0.05). The seedlings in the area which were cut-off in 2015 made more height growth than the seedlings in the area which were cut-off in 2014 (p> 0.05). Percentage of organic matter (p <0.05), percentage of sand (p <0.05) and percentage of clay (p> 0.05) showed a positive increase in soil treated in 2015 compared to in soil treated in 2014. Percentage of dust (p <0.05) of the soil treated in 2014 was found more. As a result of the study, it may be advisable to carry out seeding cutting on the date specified in the Silviculture plan and to leave the living cover clearance and soil preparations to the first good seed year if the date given in the plan is not the seed year.