Responses of water-carbon physiology and soil water-carbon distribution characteristics to thinning in Populus tomentosa

WANG Yafei, ZHU Wei, QU Guanbo, TANG Zehao, JIA Liming

Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition） ›› 2026, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (3) : 112-120.

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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 (3) : 112-120. DOI: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202409009

Responses of water-carbon physiology and soil water-carbon distribution characteristics to thinning in Populus tomentosa

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Abstract

【Objective】This research aims to clarify the response mechanism of soil moisture and carbon characteristics and forest water-carbon physiological processes to thinning, and provide a theoretical reference for the optimization of efficient structural control technology of fast-growing tree species.【Method】Taking 8-year-old triploid P. tomentosa S86 ((Populus tomentosa×P. alba var. pyramidalis)×(P. alba×Populus × canadensis)) plantations in the North China Plain as the research object, three thinning intensities were set: no thinning (NT), alternate row thinning (50% thinning, T50), and alternate row and alternate tree thinning (75% thinning, T75). We analyzed the changes in leaf water traits, gas exchange parameters, and non-structural carbohydrates of P. tomentosa after thinning, as well as the distribution characteristics of soil moisture and carbon, to explore the relationship between soil moisture and carbon characteristics and the physiological processes of water and carbon in trees under different thinning intensities.【Result】(1) A significant negative correlation was found between soil moisture content and soil organic carbon content(P<0.05). Overall, both soil moisture content and organic carbon content were regulated by thinning. As the soil depth increased, the soil moisture content increased layer by layer, while the organic carbon content decreased layer by layer. (2) In the short period after thinning, the transpiration rate of P. tomentosa changed. As the thinning intensity increased, the transpiration rate first increased and then decreased. Among them, the leaf transpiration rate of the T50 treatment was significantly increased by 40.94% compared with the T75 treatment, but other gas exchange parameters were not affected by the short-term effects of thinning. (3) There was no significant difference in the carbon, nitrogen content and non-structural carbohydrate content of leaves in the short period after thinning. Their mass fractions were 470.01-511.85, 21.30-22.53, and 102.31-113.65 g/kg, respectively. (4) Thinning could regulate forest trees to form a larger canopy and significantly promoted the growth of tree diameter at breast height (P<0.05). As the thinning intensity increased, this promoting effect became more obvious. (5) There was a significant positive correlation between leaf photosynthetic rate and soil organic carbon (P<0.01). Soil organic carbon content positively affected the photosynthetic process of leaves and thereby promoted forest growth, while soil moisture negatively regulated leaf water physiological processes and inhibited forest growth.【Conclusion】Tending thinning had different effects on soil moisture and carbon content, and there were differences in soil water and carbon content at different soil depths. In the short time after thinning, changes in soil water and carbon content did not affect in the net photosynthetic rate, water status, nutrient content and non-structural carbohydrates of P. tomentosa leaves. Forest trees transferred nutrients and photosynthetic products to storage organs such as tree branches and trunks, thereby increasing the growth and development of tree diameter at breast height and crown width.

Key words

Populus tomentosa / thinning effect / tree water-carbon physiology / soil water and carbon / non-structural carbohydrates(NSC)

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WANG Yafei , ZHU Wei , QU Guanbo , et al . Responses of water-carbon physiology and soil water-carbon distribution characteristics to thinning in Populus tomentosa[J]. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Sciences Edition）. 2026, 50(3): 112-120 https://doi.org/10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202409009

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