Geografie 2024, 129, 43-59
Phenology characteristics and demographic structure of Aleppo pine in the Algerian mediterranean forest: The case study of El-Harhouria afforestation
, Khaled Missaoui2, Rahul Gawai3, Akram Kout4,5, Malika Rached Kanouni6, Amel Neghnagh7, Ibtissem Samai8
1University of Ferhat Abbas Setif 1, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Departmnent of Plant Biology and Ecology, Setif, Algeria
2University of Ferhat Abbas Setif 1, Faculty Architecture and Earth Sciences, Laboratory Urban Project, City and Territory, Setif, Algeria
3American University of Sharjah, Department of Civil Engineering, GIS and Mapping Lab, (GISML), Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
4University of Constantine, Laboratory of Modelling and Implementation of Complex System, Constantine, Algeria
5University of Ferhat Abbas Setif 1, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Departmnent of based study, Setif, Algeria
6University of Larbi Ben M’hidi, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Life and Nature Sciences, Department of Life and Nature Sciences, Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria
7University Mohamed Boudiaf M’sila, Faculty of Sciences, Departement of Natural and life Sciences, Laboratory of Biodiversity and Biotechnological techniques for the valuation of plant resources, Algeria
8Badji Mokhtar University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Laboratory Researches of Soil and Sustainable Development, Annaba, Algeria
Received February 2023
Accepted February 2024
The structural characteristics of tree populations and their spatial distribution is an essential indicator of forest health. A subjective sampling of the Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill) of El-Harhouria afforestation in Algeria made it possible to establish the characteristics of this plant formation. In this case, five plots of 900 m2 were subjected to the following dendrometric measurements: circumference, total elevation, slenderness coefficient, and density of trees. The diachronic measurement of the total photosynthesis (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) was estimated with remote sensing methods based on Landsat images from 1986 to 2021. Data analysis showed that the average density of ligneous trees is 1,207 individuals per hectare including an average basal area of 41.95 m2/ha. The diameter and height structures of the wooded stands show a predominance of old individuals. In addition, NDVI values are correlated with the age of the trees, while low values were recorded in old trees.
Keywords
circumference, dendrometry, ligneous trees, Pinus halepensis, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index.
