• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

This study was conducted to compare the local climate conditions and growth periods for the apple (Malus domestica 'Borkh') orchards at different altitudes (330, 500, and 670 m) in Jangsu-Gun, Korea. Observation data for the growth period show that the monthly mean air temperatures at the 'Hongro' apple orchard sites decrease with height at the rate of 1.0 to $3.0^{\circ}C$/100 m. The monthly minimum temperatures in April (blooming period for 'Hongro' apple) were 4.3, 2.9, and $0.4^{\circ}C$ at 330, 500, and 670 m, respectively. The monthly mean temperatures in September (i.e., the coloration and maturation period) were 20.6, 18.7, and $14.5^{\circ}C$, respectively. The annual precipitation range varied from 1,234 to 1,439 mm, which tended to increase with height. The heavy rainfall occurred in summer (June to August) and amounted to 827-933 mm. No significant differences in the duration of sunshine were observed amongst the orchards at three different altitudes. The earliest bud break was observed at the 330 m altitude (18 March 2009), which was 4 and 11 days earlier in comparison to those at 500 and 670 m, respectively. The time of full bloom at 330 m was 12 days ahead of that at 670 m. The optimal maturation of fruit (based on skin redness > 80%) was observed between 7 and 10 September at 330 m, 15 and 18 September at 500 m, and 21 and 23 September at 670 m.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.1
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• pp.102-112
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• 2006

The change of species composition and stand structure along altitudinal gradients in different aged stands was studied in five natural stands located each at 400 m, 800 m, 1,000 m, and two at 1,300 m above sea level (asl) in the western part of Mt. Chiri in Korea. Trees larger than 2.5 cm DBH were inventoried in 3 to 8 $20m{\times}20m$ quadrats in each study site. Stand ages were estimated based on the ages of Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. and Abies koreana Wilson, and used to analyze the changes in species composition and stand structure including diameter and height distributions. Species composition was changed along altitudinal gradients as P. densiflora dominated stands at 400 m asl while A. koreana dominated stands at 1,300 m asl. Major species of Quercus also changed along altitudinal gradients as Quercus variabilis Blume at 400 m asl, Quercus serrata Thunb. ex Murray at 800 m asl, and Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. at higher than 1,000 m asl. The diameter distribution did not show significant differences among stands of different altitudes. However, the height distributions of upper crown layers were significantly different among stands at below and above 1,000 m as) (P < 0.0001). Trees taller than 20 m rarely appeared in stands over 1,000 m asl. P. densiflora dominant stands at 400 m asl developed two clumped age groups as one in 30-40 ages and the other around 70 years old. Q. serrata dominant stands at 800 m asl, Q. mongolica dominant stands at 1,300 m asl and A. koreana dominant stands at 1,300 m asl were estimated to be around 30, 70, and over 140 years old after major disturbances, respectively. The diameter distribution with age structure indicated that P. densiflora at 1,300 m asl might be replaced by Q. mongolica, and Q. mongolica might be replaced by A. koreana and Pinus koraiensis later. A. koreana dominant stand seemed to stay its dominance quite long if the large disturbance would be absent.