Long term effects of regenerative cutting in Quercus cerris L.

Quercus cerris (Turkey oak) is distributed in northern, western, and southern Anatolia. Although shelterwood systems manage these forests, degraded forests undergo artificial regeneration. In this context, the mature Turkey oak stands in the Sipahiler Forests sub-district affiliated with the Sütçüler Forest District Directorate in Isparta, which did not have natural regeneration conditions, were artificially regenerated by acorn point sowing under the stand shelter. Although the regeneration was successful, the seedlings did not realize sufficient growth. Kavgacı et al. (2020) stated that "sapling cutting from ground level" was the most successful application among the four regeneration cuttings and one control made in 2017. The existing study aims to reveal the effect of long-term regenerative cutting on Turkey oak. In this context, after seven years, in 2022, height and root collar diameter were measured. The height increment from 2014 to 2022 varied between 128.17 (Treatment 1) and 71.64 (Treatment 5 or Control). Root collar diameters for treatments were not statistically different at the end of five years. Amongst regenerative cutting, Treatment 1 (cutting all saplings in the plots from just above the ground level), after eight years (2014-2022), indicated the highest height increment in the condition of long-term effect. It is envisaged that this long-term study will help with the conversion from coppices to high forests in Türkiye and the management of all oaks as well as Turkey oaks.