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This study determined the rate of decomposition of fine roots and leaf litter from birch, larch, and pine, and compared the impact of fine root decomposition and leaf litter on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus accumulation in various regenerated and reconstructed forest ecosystems. The control plots were located on podzol soils in managed forest non-degraded habitats. Over a one-year experimental season, the decomposition of birch and larch fine roots released less carbon in comparison to leaf litter. The carbon mass-loss rates were 16% for birch roots and 15% for larch roots, while for birch and larch litter, the rates were 36% and 27%, respectively. For nitrogen, mass-loss rates were 48% for birch fine roots and 60% for larch and pine fine roots, whereas for pine and birch litter the rates were 14%, and 33% for larch litter. The results of our study prove the important role of fine root input to the soil’s carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pool and additionally their significance for CO2 sequestration within the studied regenerated terrestrial ecosystems.

AĞRI İLİNDE EROZYON KONTROLÜ AMAÇLI AĞAÇLANDIRMA ÇALIŞMALARININ DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİBu çalışma Ağrı İlinde erozyon kontrol amaçlı yapılan ağaçlandırma çalışmalarını değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılmış olup Ağrı İl Çevre ve Orman Müdürlüğünün kuruluşta ve Ağrı Orman İşletme Müdürlüğünün de 2012-2014 yılları arasında yapmış olduğu erozyon kontrol amaçlı çalışmalarının değerleri kullanılmıştır. Ağrı İli için doğal olmamakla birlikte erozyonu önleme gücünün yüksek olması nedeniyle 2012-2014 yılları arasında daha çok 431.200 yalancı akasya fidanı, 94.860 adi huş fidanı, 65.370 iğde fidanı ve 157.300 sarıçam fidanı dikimi yapılmıştır. Erozyon kontrolünde Ağrı İlinde yaygın olarak kullanılan yalancı akasya, adi huş ve iğde türlerinin yaşama yüzdeleri ve büyüme performanslarının ilk yıllarda genellikle iyi düzeyde olduğu ancak sarıçam türünün ilk yıllarda genellikle iyi düzeyde olmadığı; en fazla büyüme performansı, çap ve boy artımını ise yalancı akasyanın gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Ancak Ağrı İlinde erozyon kontrolü amaçlı ağaçlandırma çalışmalarında kuşburnu, alıç, akçaağaç, kavak ve söğüt gibi türlerin de kullanılması bu türlerin genetik çeşitliliğinin ve popülasyonlarının devamını sağlayacaktır. Bu türlerin bölge iklim ve toprak koşullarına uyum yeteneklerinin olması nedeni ile dikim başarılarının daha yüksek olacağı düşünülmektedir. Ayrıca yapraklı türlerin ağaçlandırma çalışmalarında kullanılması, toprağı örtme derecelerinin iğne yapraklı türlerden daha fazla olması nedeni ile Ağrı'da erozyonu önlemede daha etkin olmaları beklenebilir.Anahtar Kelimeler: Ağaçlandırma, erozyon kontrolü, adi huş, sarıçam ve yalancı akasya. EVALUATION OF EROSION CONTROL PLANTING STUDIES IN AGRI PROVINCEThis study was carried out to evaluate the forestation works for erosion control purposes in Ağrı Province. The values of erosion control activities carried out by Ağrı Provincial Directorate of Environment and Forestry and Ağrı Forestry Directorate between 2012-2014 were used. Although it is not natural for Ağrı Province, 431,200 black locust saplings, 94,860 birch saplings, 65,370 silver berry saplings and 157,300 scotch pine saplings were planted between 2012-2014. The percentage of living and growth performances of pseudacacia, common birch and spindle species commonly used in the province of Ağrı in erosion control were generally good in the first years, but the scotch pine was generally not good in the first years; pseudoacacia was found to have the highest growth performance and diameter and height increase. The use of rose hips, hawthorn, maple, poplar and willow species in the afforestation studies for the purpose of erosion control in Ağrı Province will ensure the continuity of the genetic diversity and populations of these species. It is thought that these species will have higher planting successes due to their adaptability to climate and soil conditions in the region. In addition, the use of the above-mentioned species, which are leafy species, in forestation studies, can be more effective in preventing erosion due to the fact that the soil coverage levels are higher than the coniferous species. Keywords: Afforestation, erosion control, common birch, scotch pine and black locust 57

This paper presents the results of an analysis on characteristics of birch crowns (Betula pendula Roth) in relation to measures of the growth space occupied by a single tree at a young age. It also presents the relationships between the seedling height and certain crown characteristics. The study focused on four-year-old common birches growing in four different areas in the Elk Forest District in either fresh mixed coniferous or broadleaved forest. The measurements conducted on the chosen trees were used to calculate their crown characteristics such as crown diameter, length, height to the crown base, relative length and spread. They were also used to determine the growth characteristics of a single tree’s growth space, such as the crown area projected onto the ground, single tree space and the percentage use of unit area. Furthermore, fresh and dry leaf mass was determined. The birches growing in the fresh mixed coniferous forest reached an average height of 1.30 m, whereas in the fresh mixed broadleaved forest, the height of the trees was lower and amounted to 0.67 m. 95% of the trees had crown diameters of 0.57 m to 0.74 m in the fresh mixed coniferous forest, but only 0.19 m to 0.25 m in the fresh mixed broadleaved forest. The average lengths of the crowns in the fresh mixed coniferous and broadleaved forests amounted to 0.97 m and 0.37 m respectively. The author shows that there is a statistically significant correlation between the seedling height and the other examined characteristics. The best correlation was found between the height and the length of the crown (r = 0.9858) for birches growing in the fresh mixed coniferous forest and between the height and single tree space (r = 0.8468) for birches growing in the fresh mixed broadleaved forest.