METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING THE QUALITY OF THE LANDS SITUATED OUTSIDE FOREST RESOURCES IN THE CASE OF THE MAIN TREE SPECIES CULTIVATED IN ROMANIA
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Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 3 (52) - 2010
Series II: Forestry • Wood Industry • Agricultural Food Engineering
METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING
THE QUALITY OF THE LANDS SITUATED
OUTSIDE FOREST RESOURCES IN THE
CASE OF THE MAIN TREE SPECIES
CULTIVATED IN ROMANIA
N. ŞOFLETEA1 L. DINCĂ2 Gh. SPÂRCHEZ1
Abstract: The paper proposes a methodology for assessing the quality of
lands situated outside forest resources in the cases in which the latter’s use is
changed. The methodology used is based on ecological quantification
criteria. It also takes into consideration ecological factors and determinants
of geo-morphological, climatic and edaphic nature. Out of the 11 evaluation
charts established for the taxons most frequently involved in afforestation
works in Romania, the paper deals with three case analyses for spruce, beech
and sessile oak. Also, the paper makes recommendations concerning
completion of these with ecological factors characteristic of various taxons,
especially those with a limited action with regard to adaptation.
Key words: changing the land use, afforestation, land quality, ecological
criteria of evaluation.
1. Introduction biomass used for bio-energy production [8],
[11], [19];
The change of land use from agricultural - the interchange between the use of arable
use to forest use is being considered by and forest lands for the settling of investments
policy makers and the scientific community related to such situations [9], [20].
alike. Out of the reasons supporting such a Situations when agricultural lands are
decision the following should be mentioned: afforested or when forest lands are forever
- the increase of forest areas with a view taken out of forest resources being
to reducing the accumulation of carbon compensated with lands of similar surface
dioxide, under the label “carbon and quality are frequently encountered in
sequestration” frequently used for the Romanian forestry. According to present
implementation of the Kyoto Protocol in legislation (Ordinance of the Ministry of
1997 [2], [3], [5], [8]; Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development
- the founding of a forest plantation for no. 25/2009 concerning the Methodology
1
Dept. of Silviculture, Transilvania University of Braşov.
2
Forest Research and Management Institute Braşov.92 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 3 (52) - 2010 • Series II for determining the equivalence of lands and relevant ecological evaluations which and the calculation of financial obligations should justify a certain technical solution for a definitive removal of lands from forest of afforestation. resources or for their temporary occupation) The present paper proposes a methodology [21] in the case of compensation with lands for determining the quality of lands situated similar in point of surface and quality, a outside forest resources and involved in quite frequent situation, the drafting of land exchanges by means of using the documents which should contain among evaluation method according to ecological other things a pedo-stational study for the criteria. lands offered in compensation is necessary. The documents should be drafted by 2. Materials and Methods organisms accredited for land improvement works in the field of forestry. Considering the fact that the land This study must establish: 1 - the type of exchanges by compensation have in view forest site; 2 - the fundamental natural type mostly lands situated near forest resources, of forest; 3 - the main species corresponding especially pastures without forest to the fundamental natural type of forest; 4 - vegetation or with very little forest the level of productivity according to the vegetation or even agricultural lands, the site quality; 5 - the full afforestation solution establishment of the main criteria of based on the main species; 6 - the costs classification and analysis (of the forest necessary from the forest establishment until site and of the fundamental natural forest the achievement of the close crop phase. type) can take place by means of Under these circumstances the main equivalence with situations already problem to be solved is that of determining existent within the forest resources close to the site quality, which presupposes for each the area under consideration. At the same case the evaluation according to scientific time, in order to offer technical solutions criteria of geotope, climate and edaphotope, more frequently encountered ten main ecological factors and determinants and of species have been considered (spruce, fir- their resultant which influences the site tree, larch, Scots pine, beech-tree, sessile quality. As a result the ensuing decision oak, pedunculate oak, Turkey oak, must justify a certain afforestation formula Hungarian oak and locust) along with which should focus on one or two main Euro-American poplar hybrids for which species from the composition of the future ecological charts of classification tree-stand. according to favourability criteria have One should also consider the fact that the been suggested. In order to select the main lands involved in these compensations may species according to which the quality is be located in various places of great subsequently assessed the following phytoclimatic and edaphic heterogeneity. categories of criteria have been suggested: Likewise, each species has certain adaptive - geo-morphological conditions (altitude characteristics which manifest themselves and exposition); by means of a wider or narrower spectrum - climatic conditions (temperature and of reaction to environmental factors. This annual average precipitations, length of requires a sound knowledge of ecological bioactive period; for the species sensitive and determinant factors with a limiting to early or late frost these risks should also action. be considered); Therefore, the determination of the level - edaphic conditions circumscribed by of land quality must be based on accurate analyses of specific physiochemical indices;
Şofletea, N., et al.: Methodology for Determining the Quality of the Lands … 93 The respective data is analysed and turned determining the equivalence of lands and into points for each species according to 5 the calculation of financial obligations for favourability criteria (5 represents optimum a definitive removal of lands from forest favourability and 1 represents the minimum resources or for their temporary occupation level of favourability). [21], the production class of the future tree The work stages for determining land stand is established as follows: production quality are the following: class I and II for forest sites of superior - situating the land in the phyto-climatic quality, production class III for forest sites layer and the establishment of the of medium quality and production class IV fundamental natural forest type; for forest sites of inferior quality. - analysis of the specific geo-morphological conditions; 3. Results and Discussion - gathering climatic data of interest from the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) The main objective of the present for the nearest station; when differences of research is the establishment of the altitude between the meteorological station evaluation methodology for determining and the land in question exceed 1000 the quality of forest sites and then the meters the data provided by NMA is presentation of a case analysis for three of corrected with the recommended thermal the 11 taxons for which evaluation charts and pluviometric gradients [6]; for the have been drafted (spruce, beech and species sensitive to arid conditions the sessile oak - Tables 1, 2 and 3). establishment of favourability classes Scientific works in the field offer criteria according to the values of the Martonne and evaluation methods especially for aridity index is recommended; agricultural lands. Thus, in Romania - soil profiles are taken from representative evaluation criteria for this category of use areas from which genetic horizons are have been established by Teaci [15] and sampled; the following physiochemical they involve knowledge of the ecological indices are determined in the laboratory: characteristics of lands and the physiological humidity during summer time, pH, humus necessities of lands as opposed to natural and carbonates content, sum of exchange conditions, that is of phytocenotic aptitudes bases, exchangeable hydrogen, total [12]. capacity of cationic exchange, saturation Moreover, the same basic characteristics degree in bases, total nitrogen, soluble salts (ecological characteristics, production and soil texture; potential and phytocenotic aptitudes) are - the global potential trophicity index is mentioned in the studies concerning forest calculated; sites [14]. Vindele and Burgina [17] - according to the data thus quantified distinguish three categories of factors the main species characteristic of the according to which land evaluation is done respective forest site is or are established. in Latvia: physical (geology, geomorphology, An ecological chart is drafted for it on the humidity level and vegetation aptitudes), basis of which the quality of the site is anthropic (ways of using the lands, existent calculated and the possible production constructions etc.) and aesthetical (visual class of the tree stand is identified. aspect, prevalence of noise and other In conformity with the stipulations of the pollution sources etc.). Ordinance of the Ministry of Agriculture, The abbreviations from Tables 1, 2 and 3 Forestry and Rural Development no. are taken from Romanian Soil Taxonomy 25/2009 concerning the Methodology for System and are in accordance with FAO/
94 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 3 (52) - 2010 • Series II
UNESCO (1988) and WRB SR (1998) economic system is also supported by
classifications, meaning: AL - Alisols; AN Mejszelis [7]. The present principles of
- Andosols; AS - Fluvisols; CP - Spodo- agricultural land evaluation in Romania are
dystric cambisols; CZ - Chernozems; DC - based on technical criteria (relief analyses,
Dystric cambisols; EC - Eutric cambisols; climate and hydrological and conditions)
EL - Haplic luvisols; EP - Cambic podzols; and on economic criteria (based on the
ER - Cambisols eroded phase; FZ - quantity of the potential production to be
Phaeozems; GS - Gleysols; LS - Leptosols; attained for certain species) [12].
LV - Luvisols; NS - Humic cambisols; PD Nevertheless climatic and edaphic
- Haplic podzols; PE - Vertic subunits; PL factors are of the utmost importance when
- Planosols; RS - Regosols; RZ - Rendzinic considering land evaluation. Thus, Wall
leptosols; SG - stagnic luvisols; VS - and Westman [18] emphasize the role of soil
Vertisols; L - loamy; S - sandy; C - cley. properties for the level of forest production
The conditions which determine the in cases of prior agricultural use. Thus,
quality and the production capacity of lands normally agricultural use determines a
are outlined by Kiryuschin [4] according to certain fertility gradient in the soil depth
agro-ecological criteria (climatic, geo- with stronger influences up to depths of 30
morphological, edaphic, hydrological and to 40 cm, while at a greater depth the original
biocenotic) and intensity criteria of the qualities of soils are better reflected and
anthropic influences (technologies used in less affected by agricultural use.
land use, the socio-economic status of the It is interesting that when categories and
area etc). The idea according to which the classes established for various uses are
evaluation of a land must take into account analysed, out of the six classes established
the geographical position in the socio- in Romania for lands of agricultural use [1],
Evaluation chart for spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) Table 1
Favourability (points)
Ecological factor
5 4 3 2 1
1000- 900-1000; 800-900; 700-800; 600-700;
Altitude [m]
1200 1200-1300 1300-1450 1450-1600 >1600
Annual average temperature [°C] 5-6 4-5; 6-7 3-4; 7-7,5 2-3; 7,5-8 8
900- 800-900; 700-800; 600-700; 1400
Length of bioactive period
4.5-6 4-4.5 3.5-4; 6-7 3-3.5; 7-8 2-3
[months]
RZ; EC; LS;HS; RS; PL;
Soil type DC EP; PD; NS
EL;CP;AN LV;PE;SG GS
Global Potential trophicity index >75 50-75 30-50 10-30Şofletea, N., et al.: Methodology for Determining the Quality of the Lands … 95
Evaluation chart for beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Table 2
Favourability (points)
Ecological factor
5 4 3 2 1
800- 600-800; 500-600; 400-500; 300-400;
Altitude [m]
1100 1100-1200 1200-1300 1300-1400 1400-1500
Annual average
7-7.5 6-7; 7.5-8 5-6; 8-8.5 4-5; 8.5-9 3-4; 9-10
temperature [°C]
Annual precipitations 900- 700-900; 600-700; 550-600; 500-550;
[mm] 1000 1000-1100 1100-1200 1200-1300 1300-1400
Length of bioactive period
6-7 5-6 4-5; 7-8 3-4 2.5-3
[months]
RZ; DC; FZ; NS; LS;RS;CP
Soil type EC AS; EL
LV; AN EP; SG PE;VS;ER
Global Potential trophicity
>90 50-90 30-50 10-3096 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 3 (52) - 2010 • Series II [16] the first five are considered without according to the occurrence of thermal limitations or significant restrictions on inversions and of the late freezing; limitations and severe restrictions for - in the case of spruce the inferior agricultural use while only the lands altitudinal limit of suitable forest sites must situated in extremely severe conditions for take into account the value of the agricultural use are relegated to forest use. pluviometric factor from the vegetation While in the case analysed in the present season (FPV-IX = PV-IX / TV-IX, in which paper the last possible use is not considered PV-IX and TV-IX represent the average according to the phytocenotic aptitude precipitations and the average temperature previously discussed, the establishment of from the months of May-September); equivalence for the situations of exchanging according to Schmidt-Vogt [10] value 24 of agricultural use with forest use is considered. the pluviometric factor represents a critical The methodology proposed for the point for spruce; evaluation of lands subject to a change of - in the case of larch the forest sites use from agricultural use to forest use is identified must assure an increased based on the main criteria used in the forest perspiration capacity which should be based site analysis starting with the establishment on physical characteristics of the soil of their ecological characteristics. favourable to the retention of water from Thus, the establishment of five precipitations and to allowing this to favourability classes for the following penetrate the roots with an absorbent role; ecological factors and determinants: - in the case of Scots pine which presents geomorphological (altitude and exposition), a wide spectrum of reaction and adaptation climatic (temperature and average annual to various environmental conditions, as a rainfall) and edaphic (humidity level, pH, pioneer species and as a result of imperfect humus content, the sum of exchange bases, stems and of the reduced economic value of exchangeable hydrogen, total capacity of wood, one can recommend, though, its use cationic exchange, saturation degree in as a main afforestation species for other than bases, total nitrogen, soil texture and global oligobasic soils in the extreme oligobasic, potential trophicity) is considered. These ologotrophic soils in the extreme oligotrophic, might be relevant for any of the main very acid soils, lands with surface erosion species from the future tree stand. etc.; where the climatic and edaphic As a result of the gradiental climatic conditions are favourable to other species of changes registered on altitude or on latitude, resinous plants or broad leaves, the which are very well reflected in the determination of land quality according to distribution of forest woody species ecological requirements and the adaptability conditioned by their specific adaptations, the of Scots pine is not recommended; quantification in the evaluation charts of the - the determination of the land quality for geo-morphological and climatic conditions the case in which the main species is becomes increasingly important. Also, when represented by pedunculate oak, sessile oak, establishing the quality level certain Turkey oak or Hungarian oak presupposes ecological characteristics of the main species the consideration of their specificity as should be taken into consideration such as: opposed to certain ecological factors and - in the case of fir-tree and beech tree, determinants such as: 1 - the influence of which are sensitive to frost and freezing, altitude on the favourability level (sessile especially at a young age, the quantification oak is suitable for cultures in the hill or pre- of risks is necessary as well as the mountainous areas while the other three establishment of the favourability level species should not exceed altitudes of 500
Şofletea, N., et al.: Methodology for Determining the Quality of the Lands … 97
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