Characteristics of forest location in the transition zone focused on the growth of Fagus in western slope of Mt. Chokai, northern Japan.

Abstract

Representative sites were selected in forests of Quercus and Fagus to examine characteristics of transition zones of vegetation and soil in the western slope of Mt. Chokai, Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan, with concern on the growth of Fagus. Fagus trees in transition zone (710-780m asl.) was characterized by their large timber volume and relatively large growth rate in spite of the low soil pH and the high level of exchangeable Al content in soil, which could restrict nutrient uptake and growth of trees.