Temporal effects of thinning on soil methane flux of pine-oak mixed forests in Qinling Mountains

WANG Xiangfu, SHENG Qilin, LI Yuanghui, FENG Siyu, LIU Boran, MA Xuehong, LI Li, WANG Rongnü, WANG Weifeng

Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition） ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (1) : 142-149.

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南京林业大学学报（自然科学版）
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Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition） ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (1) : 142-149. DOI: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202407005

Temporal effects of thinning on soil methane flux of pine-oak mixed forests in Qinling Mountains

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Abstract

【Objective】 This study aims to elucidate the temporal effects of thinning on soil methane (CH4) fluxes in mixed pine-oak forests in the Qinling Mountains, providing scientific evidence for optimizing forest management strategies to regulate soil CH4 fluxes. 【Method】A chronosequence approach was adopted to examine three treatment groups: unthinned (CK), five-year post-thinning (5 a), and 13-year post-thinning (13 a). Soil CH4 fluxes were monitored monthly using the static chamber-gas chromatography approach. Statistical analyses incorporated one-way ANOVA for treatment effects, repeated measures ANOVA for temporal variations, and linear regression to identify environmental drivers.【Result】Thinning significantly modified soil properties: compare with CK, soil temperature increased by 2.73 ℃ in 5a plots (P < 0.05), while pH in 13 a plots increased 0.32 (P<0.05) and NH4+-N content in the 13 a plots decreased 2.86 mg/kg (P < 0.05). while other soil physicochemical properties before and after thinning had no significant changes. Recovery duration induced progressive changes: soil water content increased by 10.21%; soil temperature decreased by 3.08 ℃; and TP mass fraction increased by 0.21 g/kg. Seasonal CH4 flux dynamics showed peak absorption in July for all treatments. Thinning initially enhanced CH4 oxidation capacity (5 a vs CK, P < 0.05), which reverted to pre-treatment levels by 13 a (13 a vs CK, P>0.05). Regression analysis identified soil temperature and moisture as primary controls, which for every 1 ℃ increase in soil temperature, the soil CH4 uptake rate increased by 0.09-0.22 mg/(m2·d). Conversely, a 1% rise in soil moisture content reduced the CH4 uptake rate by 0.03-0.10 mg/(m2·d). Notably, stands with shorter post-thinning recovery duration (5 a) exhibited higher sensitivity to both moisture content and temperature variations. 【Conclusion】Thinning temporarily enhances soil CH4 oxidation capacity through microclimate modification, specifically via soil temperature increasing by 2.73 ℃ in early post-thinning stages (5 a). The positive effect of CH4 uptake diminishes with canopy recovery (13 a), suggesting rotational thinning interval below 13 years can could sustain soil CH4 sink functionality.

Key words

methane flux / forest tending / mixed pine-oak forest / thinning / greenhouse gas / soil

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WANG Xiangfu , SHENG Qilin , LI Yuanghui , et al . Temporal effects of thinning on soil methane flux of pine-oak mixed forests in Qinling Mountains[J]. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition）. 2026, 50(1): 142-149 https://doi.org/10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202407005

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