JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2018, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (01): 98-104.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201601020

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Effects of density adjustment on ground cover and soil hydrological function of Picea asperata plantation in the subalpine region of western Sichuan Province, China

FENG Qiuhong1, WU Xiaolong1,3, XU Zhengjingru1,4, LIU Xingliang1*, LU Changtai3, PAN Hongli1, LIU Shirong2   

  1. 1. Sichuan Academy of Forestry, Chengdu 610081, China; 2. Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environmental Sciences, State Forestry Administration, Beijing 100091, China; 3. College of Tourism, Sichuan Agricultural University, Dujiangyan 611830, China; 4. College of Tourism and Urban-Rural Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
  • Online:2018-03-30 Published:2018-03-30

Abstract: 【Objective】To determine the effects of density adjustment on ground cover and soil hydrological function of Picea asperata plantations in the subalpine region of western Sichuan Province, China. 【Method】 Moss, litter and soil of Picea asperata plantations with different density adjustment modes(no disturbance, 0%; adjustment Ⅰ, 65%; adjustmentⅡ, 75%)were measured and sampled, and hydrological functions of soils were analyzed.【Result】The results showed that thinning increased not only the net primary production of planted Picea asperata plantations but also the growth of understory(adjustmentⅡ>adjustmentⅠ>no disturbance). The maximal water holding rate(MWHR)of moss under Picea asperata plantations was between 558% and 594%, which was significantly lower than that of natural forests. There were no significant differences among the three modes. Cumulated mass(CM)and the maximal water holding capacity(MWHC)from the adjustmentⅡmode was significantly greater than that of the other modes, which might have been caused by the increase indiversity and biomass of mosses with improved light conditions. However, there were no significant differences in MWHR, CM, and MWHC in the litters among the three modes. Soil bulk density of planted forests was from 0.87 to 0.93 g/cm3, and was significantly higher than that of the natural forest. There were no significant differences in soil bulk density between levels or among different modes. Capillary water holding capacity, the lleast water holding capacity(LWHC), and MWHC from thinned forests increased significantly compared with that of the undisturbed forest. This maybe caused by improved soil porosity and soil penetrability resulting from increased soil organic content and activity of soil animals after thinning. 【Conclusion】Six years after the treatments, two modes of density adjustment had positive effects on ground cover and soil in Picea asperata plantations; 75% reduction in density led to greater effects than did 65% reduction. A long-term study is needed to further investigate the hydrological and ecological effects of different density adjustments to Picea asperata plantations.

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