Map-Making of Plant Biomass and Leaf Area Index for Management of Protected Areas

Abstract

An invento r y of the vegetat ion types of Castelporziano Estate (Ro me) . including examples of Mediterranean ecosystems in e xce lle nt preserved condition . was co mpiled . Because Leaf Area Index (LA! ) changed with forest struc ture and developmental stages. maximum LA! pro vided a good estimate of maximum biomass accumulation . Plant biomass estimation. ranging from 61 tons ha -' to 360 tons ha" , filled well into 14 biomass cl asses; the highest values (from 301 ton s ha-I to 360 tons ha ") were related to stratified forested vegetation types. including the more mature Pinus pin ea plantations. Quer cus ilex evergreen forests and broad leaf mixed forests . LA! ranged from 0 .5 to 4 .5, and changed with fore st structure . increasing with the increase of plant biomass. Leaf area index measurements filled well into nine LA! classes . and the highest values were related to the stratified veg eta tion types. Biomass and LA! maps might be employed as a computerised mapped information sys te m for natural res ource policy. reg ional planning. and landscape man agement. Long-term monitoring may easily be achieved by LA! measurements whi ch can be convened to biomass values by the identified relationship between plant biomass and LA!.

Age-related physiological and structural traits of chestnut coppices at the Castelli Romani Park (Italy)

“…LAI was the most important factor influencing C assimilation and water loss in plant communities [21,28,39,60] and it might provide an indicator of potential productivity in response to changing factor [23,25,26,42].…”

“…Plant structure measurements were carried out during the period February 2003-June 2004 in even-aged monospecific chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) coppice stands of different age (1,5,7,10,12,17,23,26, and 30 years old). These stands were subjected to the same management regime.…”

“…Sample areas, 400 m 2 each, were established for each stand age (20 per stand age), according to Aber [1], Gratani and Crescente [23], and Newbould [41]. Measurements included stool density (STOd, Figure 1.…”

“…Significant differences of structural traits were measured among the different stand ages (1,5,7,10,12,17,23,26, and 30 years old). STOd ranged from 525 ± 35 stool ha -1 (30 years) to 546 ± 35 stool ha -1 (1 year); differences among stand ages were not significant (Fig.…”

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Abstract -Coppices of Castanea sativa Miller (1,5,7,10,12,17,23,26, and 30 years old stands) were investigated. Total basal area (BA) ranged from 4.9 ± 1.9 m 2 ha -1 (1 year old stands) to 41.0 ± 2.3 m 2 ha -1 (30 years old stands), and Leaf Area Index (LAI) from 0.18 ± 0.08 m 2 m -2 (1 year old stands) to 5.00 ± 0.22 m 2 m -2 (12 years old stands).

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