Technical and Economical Evaluations of Maritime Pine Plantations in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey

Abstract

In this study, technical and economical evaluations of the maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton.) plantations, established at Bartin-Karacaydere between the years of 1979 and 1984, were made. 60 sample plots were allocated by representing the establishment techniques of mechanization and labour. The data were collected from the plots concerning growth, yield and economics, in the year of 2003. Reasonable growth rates were obtained in maritime pine plantations, in spite of the negative conditions of inadequate mechanization techniques, wrong origin and snow damages. Mean annual volume increments were calculated as 12.3 m(3)/ha and 9.8 m(3)/ha for the sites prepared by mechanization and labour, respectively. The results obtained from the economical evaluations indicated that maritime pine plantations were more productive and profitable than indigenous oriental beech forest in the area as regards the criteria of Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return and Benefit Cost Ratio.