AUSTRIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST SCIENCE, vol.130, no.4, pp.255-270, 2013 (SCI-Expanded)
The main goals of this research were (1) to assess the impact of different release operations on soil loss amounts and (2) to determine the relationship between soil loss amounts and release cutting intensities in Oriental beech. Study area is an afforestation area which was constructed in 1991. Actual age of the stand was 22. To maximize spatial variation in the dataset, stratified random sampling was used to layout transects. 24 sample plots were determined which reflects the average characteristics of the actual stand structure. 8 sample plots were selected from non-released stands, 8 sample plots were selected from the parts of the stand where light release cutting operations were done and 8 sample plots were selected from the parts of the stand where high release cutting operations were done. Obtained results showed that canopy density has negative correlation with soil loss amounts and tolerance. According to the obtained results if the surface stoniness is less, soil depth is shallow and the slope gradient is high, intensity of the release cuttings should be regulated which can be fewer than 40% of the total basal area of standing trees. By the way site factors can be controlled more efficiently.