Abstract
The decay rate of standing Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) in natural forests can be as high as 50% and is likely influenced by the soil properties and nutrient and water status of the site. To clarify the relationship between the severity of tree decay and soil properties in order to prevent decay in a natural mixed forest in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains, wood strength of standing trees was nondestructively assessed, and the severity of decay of extracted wood cores was quantified based on differences in mass between two decayed increment cores extracted at breast height and an intact increment core near the decayed ones. Soil samples from the critical root zone (non-rhizosphere) of each tree were analyzed for chemical properties and microbial composition. The abundance of chemical elements (especially total N and K) and the species richness of soil microbes increased as decay severity increased. Fungal number (FN) and actinomycetes number (AN) were related to decay severity (R2 = 0.504). Bacterial number (BN) was higher than FN or AN, but had a minor effect on tree decay. Path analysis showed BN might indirectly inhibit decay by affecting FN. Decay severity was not significantly correlated with either soil fungal or bacterial diversity. These results suggest that forest managers need to monitor levels of fungi and total N and total K levels to reduce the decay of Korean pine.
Highlights
Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc.), one of the dominant tree species in natural forests of the Xiaoxing’an Mountains in North China, is irreplaceable for providing structural stability to local forest ecosystems
These results suggest that forest managers need to monitor levels of fungi and total N and total K levels to reduce the decay of Korean pine
We found that enhanced C/N ratios and pH in the soil of the root zone was associated with more decay in Korean pine trunks
Summary
Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Siebold & Zucc.), one of the dominant tree species in natural forests of the Xiaoxing’an Mountains in North China, is irreplaceable for providing structural stability to local forest ecosystems. Tree decay is an essential biological process that produces carbon dioxide and water with a release of energy to maintain forest processes (Bednarz et al 2013), but wood quality is diminished by wood rot fungi during the decay process (Shortle and Dudzik 2012). Such decay affects tree health and timber production by degrading wood cell walls and reducing wood mechanical and physical properties. Factors such as forest density, site conditions (e.g., elevation, slope, humidity, temperature, light, and soil), hydrology and human and animal activities (Chen 1959) need to be assessed for their contributions to tree decay and loss so that appropriate management strategies can be designed
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