Early sprouting behaviour of Lebanon oak (Quercus libani Oliv.) in Zagros forests of Iran

ABSTRACT Vast areas of Zagros Forests in Iran are mainly stocked by old oak trees have been subject to traditional land use practices which resulted in failure of oak regeneration to pass the browsing horizon. Since coppice regeneration provides a fast-growing alternative to seed regeneration as well as lack of knowledge in this context, the present study aimed to investigate the sprouting ability of Lebanon oak. In total, 45 Lebanon oak trees from three diameter classes were cut by chainsaw. Monitoring the sprouting behavior during the first year after cutting indicated that the number of sprouts was largest for intermediate DBH class. Whereas there was no significant difference in mean sprout height per stump between the DBH categories, the height of dominant sprouts per stump was significantly larger for the intermediate category. The spatial distribution pattern of sprouts showed that sprouts were uniformly distributed around the stumps in most cases. In Zagros forests, coppice regeneration may be a viable means to sustain fodder and fuel wood production for the upcoming decades. This study can contribute to find management strategies for balancing the protection goals and the needs of local stakeholders who depend heavily on the sustainable use of forest resources.