Relationship Between Some Structural Elements of Macedonian Pine (Pinus peuce Gris.) in Different Elevations in National Park Pelister in North Macedonia

Abstract

The influence of elevation on the forest development and also on more structural elements is evident. The aim of this paper is to research the impact of elevation on the relationship between diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height (H), crown length (L) and stem volume (V). In the area of the Pelister National Park in North Macedonia, 22 experimental plots (EPs) were established in the even-age Pinus peuce Gris. stands with an average age of 90 years. The EPs were of a circular form and covered an area of 500 m2 each; 6 of them were established at 1150 meter above sea level (m asl), 7 at 1350 m asl and 9 at 1550 m asl. DBH, tree height, and crown length of 481 trees were measured in all EPs. The DBH – H model was prepared in accordance with Prodan, as well as nonlinear (polynomial) regression for the relation between DBH and L and nonlinear (power) regression for the relation between DBH and V. The stem volume was calculated with a formula by Parishko for Pinus peuce Gris. The quadratic mean of DBH, average Loray height, average crown ratio, and the density of the stands were also calculated. The relationship between DBH and H, L, and V was examined with Pearson correlation and root mean square deviation (RMSE). The differences between averages of H, L, and V from the EPs were tested with analysis of variance (ANOVA) with an elevation class (1150, 1350 and 1550 m asl) as single factor. The density of stands was 490, 429 and 409 trees per ha on 1150 m, 1350 m and 1550 m asl, respectively. The average DBH was 39.8 cm, 46.5 cm and 45.5 cm, and Loray height was 23.9 m, 24.1 m and 22.6 m at 1150 m, 1350 m and 1550 m asl, respectively. Crown ratio (CR) pointed out different results on the different elevations, with the average value of 40.5%, 43.7%, and 39.3% at 1150 m, 1350 m, and 1550 m asl, respectively. Differences between average structural elements at different elevations can be confirmed with ANOVA with a significance of p<0.05 and F of 3.4 for H, the significance of p<0.05 and F 3.2 for L data and p<0.05 and F of 9.7 for the value of V. In that way, the regression model for H is higher at a lower elevation, the tree has a longer crown length at lower elevation and also has a bigger volume at lower elevation. From the results, it can be concluded that the elevation has an influence on the relationship between DBH on the one hand and H, L and V as structural elements on the other hand. It can be said that at higher elevation trees have a smaller average height, DBH, and volume and have longer crown length than trees at lower elevation.