Effect of improvement cuttings on resprouting of Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) (Case study: Dasht-e Barm Kazeroon, Fars province)

In recent years dieback and decline of oak trees in Zagros forests as an important environmental issue was raised and in many areas has been destroyed trees. In this regard, in order to provide operational strategy to manage this problem and use of the resprouting ability of oak trees. Four hectares of Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) stands in Dasht-e Barm basin of Kazeroon, Fars province, were selected and the improvement cuttings were done. Sample trees were studied based on factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. The first treatment was stump diameter (less than 15, 15-30, and more than 30 cm) and the second treatment was dieback level of crown (full dieback and mid-dieback). Sample trees were cut during the winter of the first year of the study. Resprouting ability, height and diameter growth of sprouts and their survival were recorded every year. The results showed that 82% of the stumps produced sprout. There was no significant difference between diameter and height growth of the sprouts among diameter classes, dieback classes and their interaction classes. Based on the results, cutting of declined oaks in damaged areas (especially before crown full dieback) is one of the most important strategies for survival of oak trees.