The forest structure and ecological characteristics of Pinus dalatensis de ferre in Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong province

Abstract

Pinus dalatensis de Ferre, the five-needle pine, is endemic in Vietnam. It
grows naturally in Langbian plateau. Data collected from 40 sample plots
(2500 m2 each) showed that, Pinus dalatensis is founded in mixed broadleaved and coniferous forests, within the altitude range of 1400 - 1900m. The stand structure is characterized by the average density of 853 trees per hecta, average stand height of 17.2m and average diameter at breast height of 23.6cm. The stand tree diverssity is high, with 100 species, 62 genus that belong to 35 families. In the stand where Pinus dalatensis naturally grows, the soil pHKCl, nitrogen, P2O5, and K 2O ranges from 4.9 -  5.3, 0.138 - 0.441%, 0.013 - 0.415% and 0.013 - 0.051, respectively. The number of individual of Pinus dalatensis is low, with average of 19 trees/ha, average diameter and heigh are 54,8cm and 24.6m, respecitvely. It is clear that all individuals are matured or over matured. Pinus dalatensis emerges as one of 8 dominant species in stand, with IV% = 5,0%. The appearance of Pinus dalatensis is in positive relationship with the appearance of Pinus krempfii, and Elaeocarpus lanceifolius and in consistent random relationship with Craibiodendron heryi, Syzygium zeylanicum, Syzygium wightianum, Craibiodendron vietnamense, Castanopsis echidnocarpa, Elaeocarpus lanceifolius