https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/ Forest and Wood Products en daily 1 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0330 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0330 https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105954.html First, we would like to express our gratitude for the efforts and contributions of the former editor-in-chief, the director-in-charge, the production editor, and the editorial board for the timely and regular publication of previous issues of this journal despite numerous limitations. Following the conclusion of the previous editorial term, and by order of the Vice President for Research and Technology at the University of Tehran, I was appointed editor-in-chief of the journal as of 12/18/2025. In addition, several new members of the editorial board were proposed and appointed. Thanks to these previous efforts, the journal is now recognized as a reputable and high-quality publication in the field of forest and wood science. Based on the evaluation of the Iranian Scientific Publications Commission, the journal is currently ranked B, with a high score close to rank A. Efforts are underway to upgrade the journal from rank B to rank A and to achieve indexing in Scopus. Decisions in this regard will be finalized and announced following discussions with the editorial team. At present, the journal’s website, including sections such as “Contact Us,” “Journal Information,” “Guide for Authors,” and “Reviewers,” is undergoing revision and updating. Simultaneously, efforts are being made to maintain the quality of published papers while streamlining and improving the peer-review process.In volume 78, Issue 4 of the journal, eight papers were published, including three papers in the field of wood science and five papers in forestry. Considering the importance of wood cultivation in Iran, Sepasi et al., researchers from the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, addressed the production of salinity-resistant poplar (Populus alba) seedlings. Rahimian et al., from the Department of Forestry at Guilan University, investigated the effects of forest stand structural dynamics on aboveground carbon stock and carbon sequestration in managed and unmanaged forests of Tiromrood, Tonekabon County, over three decades (2004–2024). They proposed single-tree selective logging as a more suitable method than group-tree selective logging for preserving species diversity in the natural forests of northern Iran. Salarvand Shamsi et al., researchers from the Faculty of Natural Resources at the University of Tehran, examined the radial growth of beech trees at different altitudes in the Kheyrud Educational and Research Forest near Nowshahr County. They emphasized that understanding factors influencing radial growth is essential for forest management planning and for assessing the resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change. Given the importance of selecting species with low invasive potential and minimal allelopathic effects for afforestation in arid and desert regions of Iran, Moslehi et al., from the Hormozgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, the University of Hormozgan, and the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, studied the effects of native (Prosopis cineraria) and non-native (Prosopis juliflora) species on the germination and early growth of Taverniera spartea in Sirik County, Hormozgan Province. Finally, in the paper entitled “Root system architecture of beech (Fagus orientalis) seedlings: applications in bioengineering,” Ramezani and Abdi, from the Department of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, reported that the lateral and vertical development of beech seedling root systems is greater than that of mature trees. They concluded that beech seedlings are therefore well suited for afforestation and reforestation projects with bioengineering objectives, particularly for determining appropriate planting distances.The identification and production of new lignocellulosic raw materials are essential for sustaining the supply chain of materials used by the wood and paper industries. Among the papers published in this issue in the field of wood products, two addressed the production of cellulose and non-cellulosic materials, while another applied nanotechnology as an emerging approach to improve the quality of wood products. In the paper by Mousavi et al., researchers from Tarbiat Modares University and Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology proposed an efficient and low-cost index for the qualitative evaluation of various types of nano-fibrillated lignocellulose. In the study by Asadi et al., from Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of cellulose extracted from the green macroalga Cladophora sp. were investigated, highlighting its potential as a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and high-purity source for cellulose production. In the paper by Kord et al., researchers from the Research Center of Chemistry and Petrochemistry at the Standard Research Institute employed nanoparticles to enhance the wear resistance and mechanical properties of polyvinyl chloride–wood flour composites.We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the editorial board, associate editors, production editor, reviewers, literary and English language editors, and the respected authors. We also acknowledge the support and cooperation of the director-in-charge, the executive vice president of the Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, and other colleagues for the timely publication of Volume 78, Issue 4. The journal remains ready to publish timely manuscripts resulting from valuable research achievements across a wide range of topics in wood and forestry science. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105576.html On a global scale, monitoring changes in species diversity and structural components over time, as well as the consequences of management practices and their effects on aboveground carbon stock (AGCS), is essential to mitigate or even halt climate change and biodiversity loss. To achieve this aim, 31 plots of 1000 m² were established in managed (single-tree selective logging) and unmanaged (control) stands and were compared in terms of temporal trends in diversity indices (i.e., species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener diversity (Hs), and Simpson’s evenness (Se)) and structural components (i.e., stand density per hectare (SDha), coefficient of variation of diameter at breast height (CVD), height (CVH), and basal area (CVBA)) across three decades (2004, 2014, and 2024). Multiple linear regression models (MLRs) and structural equation models (SEMs) were developed to investigate the effects of changes in stand structural components and tree physiographical variables on AGCS in the Tyromroad forest of Mazandaran Province. The results showed that AGCS, O₂ production, and CO₂ absorption in unmanaged stands increased over the three decades (2004–2024) and were higher than those in managed stands. The S index in 2004, AGCS and the Se index in 2014 and 2024, as well as CVD and CVBA in 2024 and CVH in 2014, showed significant differences between managed and unmanaged stands. According to mixed ANOVA results, management strategy had a significant effect on AGCS, the S index, the Se index, CVD, and CVBA. The MLR and SEM results for both managed and unmanaged stands indicated a significant negative effect of the Se index and a significant positive effect of SDha on AGCS. Therefore, the technically appropriate implementation of the single-tree selective logging method, by simulating natural degradation processes at a small scale, appears to be a suitable approach for species diversity conservation and enrichment in the northern forests of Iran. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105575.html The production and application of nano-fibrillated cellulose and lignocellulose have been developed across a wide range of fields. Nevertheless, the diversity of raw materials and processing methods results in considerable variation in nanofibril properties, highlighting the need for simple and efficient indices to assess their quality for benchmarking purposes. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using suspension turbidity as an indirect criterion for benchmarking the quality of nano-fibrillated cellulose and lignocellulose. For this purpose, three types of poplar kraft pulp with different lignin contents (0.3%, 6.6%, and 12.6%) were produced and subjected to nano-fibrillation using an ultra-fine grinder. The chemical composition, crystallinity index, average nanofibril diameter, suspension turbidity, fibrillation yield, and mechanical properties of the produced films were evaluated. The results indicated that turbidity is a significant indicator for evaluating the quality and benchmarking of nano-fibrillated lignocellulose. Specifically, a 38% variation in turbidity was observed depending on the type of raw material, whereas benchmarking based on the tensile strength of the produced films—despite being time-consuming and susceptible to numerous errors during film preparation and measurement—showed a maximum difference of only 20% between the lowest and highest values. Moreover, the results showed that nano-fibrillated lignocellulose containing 6.6% lignin exhibited the lowest turbidity index, which was attributed to more effective fibrillation. Therefore, turbidity measurement is proposed as a simple, low-cost, and non-destructive approach for evaluating nanofibril quality, alongside conventional indices such as tensile strength and fibrillation yield. This method may also play a valuable role in the development of on-line, industrial-scale benchmarking of nano-fibrillated lignocellulose. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105529.html Altitude, as a key environmental factor, significantly affects tree growth. This study investigated the variations in the annual radial growth of beech trees over a 60-year period (1964–2024) across three altitudinal ranges: below 1,000 m, 1,000–1,400 m, and above 1,400 m a.s.l. in the Kheyrud Educational and Research Forest. To this end, 30 field sample plots (30 × 30 m) were established in pure beech stands, and a total of 150 dominant trees were selected, from which two increment cores per tree were extracted. After measuring tree-ring widths and performing cross-dating, both raw annual ring-width chronologies and detrended time series were constructed, and their statistical quality indices were calculated. The results revealed significant differences in mean radial growth among the altitudinal ranges. Radial growth was greatest at mid-elevations (1,000–1,400 m) and lowest above 1,400 m. However, during the last 30 years, beech trees at the lowest elevations slightly outperformed those at mid-elevations. Moreover, the detrended chronologies indicated that growth patterns at low and mid-elevations were more consistent with each other, whereas trees at higher elevations displayed a different growth pattern and were more sensitive to environmental changes. Overall, the findings suggest that altitude exerts a negative effect on beech growth, although the magnitude and form of this effect vary among altitudinal ranges, with mid-elevations providing the most favorable conditions for growth. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105528.html Considering the extensive afforestation of non-native Prosopis (mesquite) species in southern Iran and the ongoing debate regarding their allelopathic effects, this study investigated the effects of different concentrations of leaf extracts from native (P. cineraria) and non-native (P. juliflora) Prosopis species on the germination and early growth of Taverniera spartea under laboratory conditions. Thirty healthy mother plants of T. spartea were randomly selected from the forest floor vegetation in Sirik County. Following seed collection and viability assessment, 15 seeds per treatment, with four replications, were placed in Petri dishes lined with filter paper moistened with leaf extract solutions at concentrations of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8%. The measured variables included germination percentage, radicle length, and plumule length. Data were analyzed using a General Linear Model (GLM). The results indicated that the greatest plumule lengths occurred in the control (2.68 cm) and 4% (2.33 cm) treatments, while the highest germination percentage was observed at the 6% concentration (15.83%) (P<0.05). Furthermore, the native Prosopis treatment yielded higher values for germination percentage (17%), radicle length (2.83 cm), and plumule length (2.43 cm) compared to the non-native Prosopis. Interaction analysis revealed that leaf extracts of the native Prosopis species, particularly at moderate concentrations (4 and 6%), enhanced both germination and early seedling growth of T. spartea. In contrast, the non-native Prosopis species exhibited inhibitory effects. Differences in the concentration of inhibitory compounds and the greater ecological compatibility of local fauna and flora with the native species P. cineraria may explain the contrasting allelopathic effects observed between the two Prosopis species. Overall, the findings suggest that native Prosopis species exert a stimulatory influence on the early growth of T. spartea. Therefore, the use of native Prosopis species is recommended in afforestation programs, while the potential adverse impacts of non-native species should be mitigated through appropriate management and planning. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105531.html In this study, the abrasion and tribological performance of polyvinyl chloride–wood flour composites reinforced with nanosilica, nanoclay, nanographene, and carbon nanotubes were investigated. Moreover, the mechanical strength and hardness of specimens containing nanoparticles were compared with those of control samples. To achieve this objective, wood flour was mixed with polyvinyl chloride at a weight ratio of 50% by melt compounding. Nanoparticles were used at various loading levels of 1, 2, 3, and 5% (by weight). Tribological tests were performed according to the pin-on-disk method, and wear resistance and friction coefficient were measured. The morphological aspects of the specimens were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to evaluate the dispersion of nanoparticles in the composites. The results indicated that the presence of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix improved the tribological behavior of the composites by reducing the wear rate and increasing the friction coefficient. However, the tribological properties of the samples decreased with the inclusion of high nanoparticle loadings (5% by weight). The lowest weight loss was observed for specimens containing nanosilica, nanographene, carbon nanotubes, and nanoclay, with values of 0.11, 0.14, 0.19, and 0.22 g at the 3 wt% loading level, respectively. The weight loss of the control samples was 0.33 g. The evaluation of hardness and mechanical properties (flexural strength, flexural modulus, tensile strength, and tensile modulus) showed that the highest values were obtained in composites containing 3% nanosilica. Morphological observations revealed that nanoparticles were homogeneously and well dispersed in the samples, whereas improper dispersion and agglomeration occurred at the higher nanoparticle content of 5% by weight. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105530.html Cellulose extracted from algal sources has attracted considerable attention as a high-value biopolymer due to its unique physicochemical characteristics and wide range of potential applications. Despite recent advances in cellulose extraction techniques from algal biomass, further investigation and optimization of physicomechanical methods are still required to obtain cellulose with desirable properties and enhanced processability. In this study, cellulose was extracted and characterized from the green macroalga Cladophora sp. through a multistep chemo-mechanical process consisting of methanol pretreatment, alkaline treatment (NaOH), and two-stage bleaching using H₂O₂/NaOH and NaClO. The final product was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), chemical composition analysis, yield determination, α-cellulose content, intrinsic viscosity, and degree of polymerization (DP). The purification process markedly reduced the protein and ash contents to 0.7% and 0.51%, respectively, while increasing the α-cellulose purity to 91.6%. Although the DP decreased significantly from 2500 to 1290 (approximately 48.5%) during the NaClO bleaching stage, this reduction may facilitate subsequent mechanical treatments for nanocellulose production. The overall cellulose yield was 69.9%, highlighting the high potential of Cladophora sp. as a sustainable source for producing high-purity cellulose. FTIR results further confirmed the effective removal of non-cellulosic constituents (lipids, hemicelluloses, lignin, and pigments) and the corresponding enhancement in cellulose purity. Overall, the findings demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed extraction approach for obtaining high-purity cellulose fibers with desirable physicochemical properties. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105527.html Plant root architecture is crucial for stability, as well as for the absorption of water and nutrients and the stabilization of soil. In this study, root architecture was investigated in the context of its application in soil bioengineering. To achieve this, 69 beech seedlings (28 seedlings from a hill with a 10% slope and 41 seedlings from a 60% slope) were extracted from the soil using the Shovelomics method. Four primary characteristics of the root system were analyzed and ranked, and mechanical strength tests were also conducted on root samples. The findings indicated that the ratio of maximum rooting depth to stem length on slopes of 10% and 60% was 32.23% and 28.94%, respectively. Furthermore, the ratio of root system diameter (i.e., root mat) to seedling crown diameter was 43.80% and 63.38% for the 10% and 60% slopes, respectively. ANCOVA results revealed that while stem length was a significant covariate, slope did not significantly influence root depth but had a significant effect on root system diameter. A positive correlation was also observed between seedling height and maximum rooting depth. The most frequent root architecture patterns observed on both slopes were classified as VH, followed by V, which are considered suitable for slope stabilization. The mechanical resistance of the seedlings fell within the range documented for mature oriental beech trees. Further ANCOVA results indicated that slope did not significantly affect the mechanical resistance of roots. Understanding root system architecture can greatly assist in the selection of bioengineering systems and in assessing the suitability of each species for specific applications. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105603.html Poplars (Populus spp.) are important tree species in poplar plantations and agroforestry programs due to their fast growth, high biomass production, and ecological adaptability. Mycorrhizal fungi, on the other hand, directly and indirectly enhance plant growth by improving resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heavy metal pollution, as well as biotic stresses such as pests and diseases. Therefore, in the context of climate change and the increasing salinization of water and land resources, the production of stress-resistant seedlings using ectomycorrhizal fungi is essential. In this study, the potential for establishing symbiosis between the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor and poplar seedlings under greenhouse conditions was investigated by inoculating a fungal substrate into poplar pots. After a growth period, the morphophysiological (growth parameters and biomass production) and biochemical (major nutrient elements) characteristics of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal one-year-old poplar seedlings under salt stress conditions were evaluated. Overall, the results demonstrated that L. bicolor is a suitable ectomycorrhizal fungus for forming a symbiosis compatible with the ecological characteristics of poplar trees and for enhancing nutrient availability for plant growth. Statistical analyses showed that ectomycorrhizal treatment had significant effects on growth variables (stem length), biomass production (root and shoot dry biomass), and nutrient concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in poplar seedlings. In addition, under salt stress conditions, mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited significantly higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthesis, and transpiration compared to non-mycorrhizal seedlings. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_102568.html Manual loading activity in the forestry sector often exposes workers to many biomechanical work hazards that frequently indicate a link between poor working postures and the development of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. These activities often require corrective actions and occupational ergonomic interventions to improve. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the work environment and manual loading activity using ergonomic risk assessment methods in order to prevent and control biomechanical stresses on workers engaged in manual loading activities and to witness improvements in the occupational health and safety of workers, reduce costs arising from it, and increase productivity and efficiency. The present study was conducted in Soumeh-e Saray County, Gilan Province, on 40 workers engaged in manual loading activities. In this study, the Body Map method, the Workplace Ergonomic Assessment (PLIBEL) method, and the Whole Body Biomechanical Assessment (REBA) method were used to identify and determine the level of occupational risk factors in the workplace and the prevalence and incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in manual loading workers. The results showed that the numerical index (REBA) for manual loading activity was 11.5, which indicates a very high risk level and classification of this activity at the level of high-risk activities for exposure to occupational risk factors and occupational pathogens in the forestry sector, which has an urgent and urgent need for ergonomic corrective measures and ergonomic intervention prevention and control programs. https://jfwp.ut.ac.ir/article_105551.html This study investigates the spatial structure and distribution patterns of old-growth Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) trees within the Baharbon district of Kheyroud Forest, a key area in the Hyrcanian forest ecosystem. Old-growth trees were identified by diameter at breast height (DBH), and plot areas of 0.5 and 1 hectare were established around them for detailed measurement of structural attributes. These included mean DBH, dominant height, species mixture, and spatial distribution, using indices like mixture and uniform angle indices derived from precise spatial data. In total, 310 structural groups were analyzed in beech-dominated forest types and 411 in other-species forest types. Beech was the dominant species with 256 trees in beech forests and 138 in mixed types. Alder trees in the beech forests had the largest average size (mean DBH of 103.4 cm and height of 40.8 m), while hornbeam, prominent in the mixed forest, was smaller. Structural analysis identified two distinct forest groups: one with beech and maple showed complex, heterogeneous structure with high species mixture and variability in diameter and height; the other, including alder, hornbeam, and others, had simpler, more homogeneous features. Statistical tests revealed significant differences in mixture index and height dominance between groups but no difference for other variables. The study highlights the importance of protecting old-growth trees, promoting diverse species composition, and using management strategies that minimize large tree exploitation and support companion species. Such approaches are essential for maintaining the Hyrcanian forests’ ecological functions, stability, and biodiversity over the long term.