Dynamics of phytomass production in the forest ecosystems of Mt. Etna

LEONARDI Salvatore

Università degli Studi di Catania, Dipartimento di Metodologie Fisiche e Chimiche per l’Ingegneria, Catania Italy

A synthesis is given of the results of the research into the variations of the dynamics of phytomass of natural and artificial forest ecosystems of Genista aetnensis, Castanea sativa, Quercus ilex, Quercus cerris, Fagus sylvatica, Betula aetnensis, and Pinus laricio, carried out on 19 plots in 11 areas at different heights and exposure on the volcano Mt. Etna.

In each ecosystem the regression equations were calculated using the destructive method, and, based on their demography, the phytomass was measured in Mg ha^-1.

The values of total phytomass at Monte Minardo, vary from 1.51 to 158.58 Mg ha^-1 in tress from 1 to 52 years; in the artificial ecosystems of Castanea sativa these values were 22.3 –24.08 Mg ha^-1, in trees from 7 and 8 years, and from 83.25 to 99.55 Mg ha^-1, in trees from 12 to 22 years; these values depend on the age, pruning method, exposure and altitude, while in the woods of Genista aetnensis, the values were 16.0 to 48.4 Mg ha^-1 respectively in those of 8 and 14 – 18 years old and depend on the density and edaphic conditions of the plot other than age.

In the other natural ecosystems investigated the total phytomass was 45.96 Mg ha^-1, in 35 year old trees in the ecosystem of Betula aetnensis, 93.36 in Quercus cerris of 25 years of age, 94.0 in Pinus laricio, of 20 – 25 years, and 131.92 and 140.17 Mg ha^-1, at 45 and 46 years for Fagus sylvatica.

These results have been compared with those reported by other authors as regards similar ecosystems in various parts of Mediterranean Europe.