Estimating leaf area index of the deciduous forest in the Dragonja watershed – Part I: Methods and measuring
- Authors: Mojca ŠRAJ
- Citation: Acta hydrotechnica, vol. 21, no. 35, pp. 105-127, 2003.
- Abstract: In the research study detailed measurements and analyses of components of the forest hydrological cycle and vegetational parameters were performed, using up-to-date measuring equipment on the experimental Dragonja watershed. Within the research project carried out in co-operation with the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, two plots were selected at the end of 1999 in the deciduous forest of the Dragonja watershed, one on the north-facing slope (1419 m2) and the other on the south-facing slope (615 m2) on the hill above the confluence of the Dragonja River and Rokava River. There are considerable differences between the forests on the northern and southern slopes, i.e. in terms of structure, density, tree height and composition. On both plots the characteristics of vegetation were specified in detail. On the north plot almost half of the trees are hornbeam trees (Carpinus orientalis croaticus) (47%), followed by pubescent oak (Quercus pubescentis) (34%). The forest also includes ash (Fraxinus ornus), maple (Sorbus torminolis) and cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus Mas). On the south plot more than half of the trees are represented by ash (54%), followed by pubescent oak (26%). On the plot hornbeam, maple and cornelian cherry dogwood are also found. The measurements started in autumn 2000. Leaf area index (LAI) was estimated with three methods: direct litterfall collection method, method of hemispherical photography, and method of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). On each plot, litterfall was collected in 10 baskets, and at the same points the hemispherical photography of canopy and 3 sets of PAR measurements were performed. For establishing the LAI index the specific leaf area was established for the most frequent trees.
- Keywords: leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf area (SLA), forest hydrology, Dragonja 105 Šraj, M. Določanje indeksa listne površine listnatega gozda na povodju Dragonje –
- Full text: a35ms-lai.pdf