Various response of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. regeneration in artifical gaps

Abstract

Understanding the influence of gaps in promoting canopy recruitment will help to maintain structural stability and achieve continuous forest cover. We established three control plots and experimental plots with three replications each (gap sizes L-I, L-II, L-III, and L-IV) in a Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) plantation to test the short-term effects of gap size on the age distribution, density and growth, and annual height and ground diameter growth for regeneration established before (REBG) and after (REAG) gap creation. Age distribution exhibited an approximately normal distribution, with the numbers of REBG and REAG decreasing and increasing, respectively, as the age increased. Although there was no difference in density among gap size classes, regeneration growth positively responded to gap size, with maximum values observed in class L-III. Annual average height growth after (AAH-A) gap creation was significantly greater than that before (AAH-B) gap creation for REBG among gap sizes, suggesting that gaps promote the rapid growth of regeneration. However, the responses of height and ground diameter growth in REBG to gap size were not immediate and exhibited a response delay of 2–4 years. Similarly, for the height and ground diameter growth of REAG, significant differences were first observed within years 2–4 after germination in the same growing season for all gap size classes.

Effect of Soil Layer and Plant–Soil Interaction on Soil Microbial Diversity and Function after Canopy Gap Disturbance

“…Gap formation is beneficial for the management of Pinus tabulaeformis plantations [12]. Previous studies reported that gap creation positively influenced Chinese pine seeding regeneration [13][14][15]. However, there have been few studies regarding the changes of soil microbial communities and enzyme activities after gap creation in a Pinus tabulaeformis forest.…”