Thinning increased fine root production, biomass, turnover rate and understory vegetation yield in a Chinese fir plantation

Wang, D.; Olatunji, Olusanya Abiodun; Xiao, Jingang

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2019.03.012

Cited by 34 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Traditionally, various studies of thinning have provided inconsistent results on understory because focused on different tree species and conducted on different areas (Nagai & Yoshida, 2006;Cheng et al, 2017;Lindh & Muir, 2004). Particularly, some studies of thinning on Chinese fir plantations supported that the species richness, diversity, coverage and biomass of the understory plants increased with increasing thinning intensity (Xiong, Sheng & Zeng, 1995;Wang, Li & Wang, 2010;Wang, Olatunji & Xiao, 2019;Zhou et al, 2016). In contrary, another study showed that thinning have no effects on the diversity of understory in Chinese fir plantations (Cheng et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term effects of thinning on the development and communities of understory vegetation of Chinese fir plantations in Southeastern China

Wang

Yang

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Background High-density conditions are global issues that threaten the sustainable management of plantations throughout the world. Monocultures and untimely management practices have identically resulted in the simplex of community structures, decreases in biodiversity, and long-term productivity losses in plantations China. The most popular measure which is commonly used to address these issues is thinning, which potentially results in increases in the development of understory plants in plantations. However, there is limited information currently available regarding the community composition of understory vegetation and the associated environmental factors, which has limited the sustainable management of China’s fir plantation ecosystems. Method In the present study, a thinning experiment was implemented which included a control check (CK: no thinning), as well as low intensity thinning (LIT: 20%), moderate intensity thinning (MIT: 33%), and high intensity thinning (HIT: 50%) in Chinese fir plantations located in the Southeastern China. During the investigation process, the understory vegetation examined three years after thinning measures were completed, in order to analyze the impacts of different thinning intensities on the growth and community composition of the understory plants. At the same time, the associated environmental factors in the fir plantations were also investigated. Results The species richness, total coverage, and biomass of the understory vegetation were observed to be apparently increased with increasing thinning intensity. In addition, it was found that the thinning measures had prominently influenced the soil nutrients. The community compositions of the understory vegetation were significantly different among the four thinning intensity levels, especially between the CK and the HIT. Furthermore, the development of the understory vegetation was found to be significantly correlated with the soil nutrient contents, and the community compositions of the understory vegetation were prominently driven by the tree densities, slope positions, and soil nutrient contents.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term effects of thinning on the development and communities of understory vegetation of Chinese fir plantations in Southeastern China

Wang

Yang

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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“…Fine roots, generally defined as ≤ 2 mm in diameter, are one of the most physiologically active organs of the tree, owing to their short lifespan and large absorption capacity (Liu et al 2014;Wells and Eissenstat 2001). Although fine roots account for less than 10% of the total forest biomass (Olesinski et al 2012), they account for approximately a third of the annual net primary production in forest ecosystems (Finer et al 2019;Wang et al 2019). Because of their crucial role in energy and matter fluxes and the essential function of soil resource acquisition in the biosphere (Stewart and Frank 2008), fine root dynamics have been widely studied.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of density-related fine root production to soil and leaf traits in coniferous and broad-leaved plantations in the semiarid loess hilly region of China

et al. 2021

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Fine roots are the most active and functional component of root systems and play a significant role in the acquisition of soil resources. Density is an important structural factor in forest plantations but information on changes in fine roots along a density gradient is limited. In this study, plantations of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.) with four density classes were analyzed for the influence of soil and leaf traits on fine root growth. Fine root biomass increased with stand density. High fine root biomass was achieved through increases in the fine root production and turnover rate in the high-density black locust plantations and through an increase in fine root production in the pine plantations. In the high-density Chinese pine stand, there was a high fine root turnover which, coupled with high fine root production, contributed to a high fine root biomass. Overall, fine root production and turnover rate were closely related to soil volumetric water content in both kinds of plantations, while fine root biomass, especially the component of necromass, was related to soil nutrient status, which refers to phosphorous content in black locust plantations and nitrogen content in Chinese pine plantations. There was a close linkage between leaf area index and fine root dynamics in the black locust plantations but not in the pine plantations.

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“…Traditionally, various studies of thinning have provided inconsistent results on understory because focused on different tree species and conducted on different areas (Nagai & Yoshida, 2006;Cheng et al, 2017;Lindh & Muir, 2004). Particularly, some studies of thinning on Chinese fir plantations supported that the species richness, diversity, coverage and biomass of the understory plants increased with increasing thinning intensity (Xiong et al, 1995;Wang et al, 2010Wang et al, , 2019Zhou et al, 2016). In contrary, another study showed that thinning have no effects on the diversity of understory in Chinese fir plantations (Cheng et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #2 of "Short-term effects of thinning on the development and communities of understory vegetation of Chinese fir plantations in Southeastern China (v0.2)"

2020

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Background. High-density conditions are global issues that threaten the sustainable management of plantations throughout the world. Monocultures and untimely management practices have identically resulted in the simplex of community structures, decreases in biodiversity, and long-term productivity losses in plantations China. The most popular measure which is commonly used to address these issues is thinning, which potentially results in increases in the development of understory plants in plantations. However, there is limited information currently available regarding the community compositions of understory vegetation and the associated environmental factors, which has limited the sustainable management of China's fir plantation ecosystems. Method. In the present study, a thinning experiment was implemented which included a control check (CK: no thinning), as well as low intensity thinning (LIT: 20%), moderate intensity thinning (MIT: 33%), and high intensity thinning (HIT: 50%) in fir plantations located in the Southeastern China. During the investigation process, the understory vegetation examined three years after thinning measures were completed, in order to analyze the impacts of different thinning intensities on the growth and community compositions of the understory plants. At the same time, the associated environmental factors in the fir plantations were also investigated. Results. The species richness, total coverage, and biomass of the understory vegetation were observed to be apparently increased with increasing thinning intensity. In addition, it was found that the thinning measures had prominently influenced the soil nutrients. The community compositions of the understory vegetation were significantly different among the four thinning intensity levels, especially between the CK and the HIT. Furthermore, the development of the understory vegetation was found to be significantly correlated with the soil nutrient contents, and the community compositions of the understory vegetation were prominently driven by the tree densities, slope positions, and soil nutrient contents.

show abstract

Thinning increased fine root production, biomass, turnover rate and understory vegetation yield in a Chinese fir plantation

Cited by 34 publications

References 46 publications

Short-term effects of thinning on the development and communities of understory vegetation of Chinese fir plantations in Southeastern China

Short-term effects of thinning on the development and communities of understory vegetation of Chinese fir plantations in Southeastern China

Response of density-related fine root production to soil and leaf traits in coniferous and broad-leaved plantations in the semiarid loess hilly region of China

Peer Review #2 of "Short-term effects of thinning on the development and communities of understory vegetation of Chinese fir plantations in Southeastern China (v0.2)"

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