JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (1): 38-46.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202104028

Special Issue: 智慧林业之森林参数遥感估测

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Application of structural equation model in growth of Larix gmelinii stand

GAO Yu(), LI Jing, LIU Yang(), WU Yahan, GONG Jiaxing, XIN Qirui   

  1. College of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, China
  • Received:2021-04-17 Accepted:2022-03-22 Online:2023-01-30 Published:2023-02-01
  • Contact: LIU Yang E-mail:gaoyu12020@163.com;liuyangvip@hotmail.com

Abstract:

【Objective】 Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to determine the effects of climate, soil, and altitude on growth indicators and pathway relationships in Xing’an larch (Larix gmelinii) forests. 【Method】 The annual mean temperature, annual mean precipitation, solar radiation, soil total nitrogen content, soil organic carbon density, and altitude were selected as influencing factors to explore the relationships between aboveground biomass, underground biomass, and tree height and these underlying factors. A structural equation model of climate, soil, and altitude was constructed using AMOS 21.0 software to measure the growth of Larix gmelinii stand. 【Result】 The aboveground and underground biomass of Larix gmelinii first increased and then decreased with an increase in altitude and annual mean precipitation, and the tree height increased with increasing altitude. The aboveground and underground biomass increased with an increase in soil organic carbon density. The total effect coefficient of altitude on the growth of Larix gmelinii was positive (0.200), and the direct effect (0.224) of altitude on the growth of Larix gmelinii was greater than the indirect effect (-0.024). The total effect coefficient of the climatic factors on the growth of Larix gmelinii was negative, at -0.771. The total influence coefficient of soil factors on the growth of Larix gmelinii was -0.216, which means these factors can slightly inhibit the growth of Larix gmelinii. 【Conclusion】 According to the path coefficient of the structural equation model, the absolute value of the total influence coefficient of climate factors was the largest, followed by that of soil and altitude. The static growth of Larix gmelinii forest is mainly restricted by climatic factors, which has guiding significance for predicting and evaluating changes in forest growth at high latitudes under the condition of global climate change.

Key words: Larix gmelinii, influence coefficient, climate factor, soil factor, elevation, aboveground and belowground biomass, tree height, structural equation model

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