Copyright © by the Italian Society of Silviculture and Forest Ecology doi: 10.3832/efor0562-006

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Climate effects on cork growth in Cork oak plantations in Sicily (Italy)

Pizzurro GM, Maetzke F

Dipartimento di Colture Arboree, Università degli Studi di Palermo, V.le delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo (PA, Italy)

Abstract: Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is usually dominant in silvopastoral systems in many areas of Sicily, where the trees are debarked periodically for cork production. In spite of the importance of cork and cork oak stands in Sicilian forests and the potential economic scenarios, few research works have been carried out on these systems. Given the importance of cork thickness in cork quality evaluation, the main objective of this work is to study cork growth in cork oak productive stands spread on the north (Nebrodi Mountains) and south-east (Iblei Mountains) of Sicily. Image analysis techniques were used on cork surfaces of transverse sections of planks to measure cork rings. Dendrochronological analysis was applied to study annual fluctuation on rings growth in relation to various climate parameters in a cork cycle production. Results showed that rainfall, summer drought and temperature are determining factors in controlling cork growth. In siliceous areas of Nebrodi Mountains correlation between cork growth index and rainfall indicates that the rain period from May to September strongly influences phellogen activity. Temperature and water stress indices, on the other hand, show a negative correlation with cork growth. In clay and evolved soils of volcanic plateau of Iblei Mountains January precipitation shows a positive correlation with cork growth index. Also absolute minimum temperature in June and absolute maximum temperature in September show a positive correlation when temperature possibly has influence on phellogen activity during growing season.

Received: Apr 10, 2008 - Accepted: Dec 11, 2008 - Published online: Mar 25, 2009

Full Text DOI (Digital Object Identifier): 10.3832/efor0562-006

Citation: Pizzurro GM, Maetzke F, 2009. Climate effects on cork growth in Cork oak plantations in Sicily (Italy). Forest@ 6 (1): 107-119. [online 2009-03-25] URL: http://www.sisef.it/forest@/show.php?id=562 - [doi: 10.3832/efor0562-006]

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