Site Quality Assessment For Quercus AlnifoliaIntroduction

This research paper is based on a study involving scientific evaluation of the key and minor factors underlying in the establishment, growth and development of Quercus alnifolia. It seeks to give elaborate quality assessment for the tree species and its compatibility to the various ecological zones.

The author gave emphasis to the evaluation of the performance of this tree species, its growth and the rates of survival having the variations in site and localities. The paper seeks to determine the proportional composition of factors favoring the establishment, development and management of Quercus alnifolia. The very component of suitability is the key drive to the compilation of the research paper.

The suitability factors for the growth and development of Quercus alnifolia are an indispensable aspect in determining the underlying conditions rendering favor for a characteristic regeneration of the species.

The species will highly be propagated through sexual production by germination of tree seeds but this is significantly not self sufficient as a natural stimulation is very important and vital for a species establishment and continuity. The paper further establishes a field guide that is a representation of the site characteristics viable for Quercus alnifolia establishment and development. The author outlines the strategic components to a successful establishment leading to a sustainable development of the Quercus alnifolia.

The assessment field guide will highly recommend the integration of this research paper in the entire endeavor in establishing the woodlots or plantations for Quercus alnifolia in the various ecological zones. The paper highlights the different soil site physiognomies and agro climatic properties that will favor this establishment.

The assessment established that the site selection is a fundamental tool to the start up program of any project concerning the establishment of this tree species. The paper also highlights in a special manner the results and successes associated with a pre establishment assessment as a key must-have package in projects.

Review of Literature

Mediterranean oaks are highly regarded for their every green spectacular aspect. Of the Mediterranean tree species are the four unique oaks all- season green trees. Of this the Quercus alnifolia has the best distribution characteristics having been considered by environmental experts and Botany scientists is a rare woodland species (Ruperez 64).

This Site Assessment Paper is a fundamental component to environment interventions and in the forest management. An elaborate and resourceful assessment is highly valuable when integrated in efforts to decision making involving selection of tree species and their consequential establishment and management. (Mader 196) developed several on site assessment techniques. This being the most commonly used models of evaluation such as on site soil assessments, mapping units, growth characteristics exhibited by other plants in the same site or ecological zone.

The author wishes to appreciate the role played by earlier models of assessment involving edaphic studies and correlations with climatic properties in achieving site indices. The most popular of this assessment models being the estimation of site indices by use of edaphic aspects of topography and other soil properties is often used in research and assessment interventions.

The paper also notes that site assessments are a useful package to developing research bases on the site characteristics in relation to the prevailing soils. This interpretation calls for an integral part involving mathematical evaluations to ascertain the resultant site index. These integrations were a key milestone in the entire endeavor having them as tools to scientifically collaborate the literature therein.

In contrary to this significant studies have proved to question the reliability on mathematical equations to fully determine site indices, in addition, biological queries have prompted to disqualify the over dependence on mathematical approaches to determine site indices and rather initiating advancements in research involving more biological and testable methodologies (Broadfoot31; Harding and Baker 193; Scholz and Youngberg, 397).

Work Cited

Baker, James B.; Broadfoot, W.M.Apractical field method of site evaluation for eight

important southern hardwoods.1977. 31 pg Gen. Tech. Rep. SO-14. New Orleans, LA: U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station;

Youngberg, C.T.; Scholz, H.F.Relation of soil fertility and rate of growth of mixed oak stands in the driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin14: 300-397pg; 1949.Soil Science Society of America Proceedings.