Growth process and diameter structure of Pinus tabulaeformis forest for soil and water conservation in the hilly loess region of China

Abstract

Using stem analysis method, the biomass, growing process and diameter structure of 21-year shady and sunny slope Pinus tabulaeformis forest were investigated in hilly loess-gully region. Results showed that there were distinct difference in the indexes, tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and timber volume between shady and sunny slope forest. The biomass, growth status and its diameter structure of shady slope forest were greater than those in sunny slope forest. The fast-growing period of tree was from 9 to 13 years. After 13 years, the annual increment of shady slope forest was greater than that of the sunny slope forest (the annual increment of shady slope forest reached 0.26 m.a(-1), while it was about 0.1 m.a(-1) in sunny slope forest in the 21st year). The DBH growth increment of 2 forests were reduced greatly after 13 years, but the declining degree of shady slope forest was less than the sunny slope forest. The current annual increment of shady slope forest was greater than the sunny slope forest after 17 years. There was little difference in the increment of 2 timber production before 13 years. But the increment of shady forest was greater than the sunny forest after 13 years (in the 21st year, the annual increment was 0.0023 m(3) in shady slope, but in sunny slope it was only 0.0015 m(3)). The summit of DBH distribution curve was both partial to left, while the skewness (SK was 0.75) of shady forest was lower than that of the sunny forest (SK was 1.03) and kurtosis (K was 1.05) of shady forest was higher than that of sunny forest (K was 0.94). The results indicated the density structure of sunny slope forest was greater than shady slope forest.