Response of understory vegetation, tree regeneration, and soil quality to manipulated stand density in a Pinus massoniana plantation

0509696 - BÚ 2020 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Ali, A. - Akhtar, K. - Teng, M. - Yan, Z. - Urbina-Cardona, N. - Müllerová, Jana - Zhou, Z.
Response of understory vegetation, tree regeneration, and soil quality to manipulated stand density in a Pinus massoniana plantation.
Global Ecology and Conservation. Roč. 20, October (2019), s. 1-15, č. článku e00775. ISSN 2351-9894. E-ISSN 2351-9894
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : forest regeneration * soil properties * plant diversity
OECD category: Biodiversity conservation
Impact factor: 2.526, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Open access

Tree density affects species diversity in forest plantations. Understory species diversity, tree regeneration, and soil physicochemical characteristics were assessed under three planting densities of Pinus massoniana in Taizishan Mountains, Hubei, China. There was a higher degree of shrub and herb species diversity in lower density stands. Total species richness was higher for herbs (n = 42) than for shrubs (n = 30) but the two groups exhibited a similar pattern with greater species richness at lower stand density. Changes in community structure and composition were more frequent in high density stands. Community structure in low and medium density stands was more similar to one another than to high stand densities for both herbs and shrubs. The regeneration status of tree species was more abundant in low and medium density stands. Low and medium density stands had significantly more favorable chemical properties such as soil organic matter, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and nitrogen, as well as on physical soil properties such as non-capillary pores and minimum water holding capacity. Lower planting density was beneficial with regard to natural regeneration, plant species diversity, and soil quality. Reducing tree density of existing high-density P. massoniana plantations can promote both understory plant species diversity and tree regeneration to sustain forest ecosystem services.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0304474