A Study on Setting of Management Period For Considering the Annual Growth Characteristics of Oak Trees Planted in Ecological Restoration Areas
This study was conducted to analyze the growth of oak species, which are the most widely planted in ecological restoration sites established as part of the Four Major Rivers Riverin Ecological Belt Project, and to propose an appropriate management period based on these findings. Generally, transplanted trees undergo artificial operations such as root pruning or pruning, and such physical disturbances are a significant cause of reduced growth immediately after planting. The time required to recover pre-transplant growth varies depending on the tree species; therefore, it was determined that analyzing the changes in annual growth of oak species and establishing an appropriate management period based on the results is crucial for stable establishment. Accordingly, this study analyzed the growth of oak species planted in the riverin ecological belt sites of the Geum River and Nakdong River basins and compared annual growth rates before and after planting. Furthermore, the study aimed to identify the time required for full-scale volume growth after planting and propose an appropriate management period based on these results. The research results showed that, similar to other tree species planted in ecological restoration sites, the growth rate of oak trees decreased sharply immediately after transplantation, but began to recover starting from the third year after planting. It was confirmed that it takes between three and five years to recover the growth rate to pre-transplantation levels. As oak trees are a major species planted in riverin ecological belt creation projects, their survival rate is a critical factor determining the success or failure of the project. By providing objective data on the growth patterns of oak trees after transplantation, this study can serve as important foundational data for establishing management plans to reduce tree mortality rates.