Plantations In Subtropical China Research Articles

Rainfall pulse primarily drives litterfall respiration and its contribution to soil respiration in a young exotic pine plantation in subtropical China

Although litterfall respiration (RL) is a key process of soil carbon dynamics in forests, factors that drive RL and its contribution to soil respiration (RS) have not been sufficiently studied. Using a litter removal method, we researched RL and the ratio of RL:RS in a 20-year-old exotic slash pine ( Pinus elliottii Englem.) plantation in subtropical China. Soil temperature explained 67%, 78%, and 25% of variation in RS, mineral soil respiration (RS-L), and RL, respectively, but had little impact on RL:RS. To study influences besides temperature, measured RS and RS-L were normalized using the Arrhenius equation. Even though this subtropical plantation was characterized by a humid climate with abundant precipitation, a rainfall pulse induced increase in soil moisture primarily drove RL and its contribution to RS but depressed RS-L. The response of RL to rainfall and soil moisture was significantly more sensitive than that of RS-L. Furthermore, the effects of rainfall and soil moisture on RS, RL, and RL:RS were higher during the dry season (July–December) than during the wet season (January–June). In the context of climate change, RL and its contribution to RS are expected to decrease because of the predicted decrease in rainfall amount and frequency in subtropical regions.

Seasonal soil CO 2 efflux dynamics after land use change from a natural forest to Moso bamboo plantations in subtropical China

Moso bamboo plantations ( Phyllostachys pubescens) are one of the most important forest types in southern China, but there is little information on the effects of their establishment and silvicultural practices on soil CO 2 efflux. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of land use change from a natural broadleaf evergreen forest to Moso bamboo plantations and their management practices on soil CO 2 efflux in a subtropical region of China using static closed chamber method. Regardless of the land uses or management practices, the effluxes over a 12-month period had a seasonal pattern, with the maximum effluxes observed in summer and the minimum in winter. Whereas there was no significant difference in the total annual soil CO 2 efflux between the natural broadleaf evergreen forest (BL) and the conventionally managed bamboo forests (CM), soil CO 2 efflux in the intensively managed bamboo forest (IM) was significantly higher. Soil temperature was the most important environmental factor affecting soil CO 2 efflux rates for all three land uses. Soil moisture also had a significant positive correlation with soil CO 2 efflux rates. Soil temperature and moisture had greater influence on soil CO 2 efflux rate in the IM than the CM and BL forests. Soil dissolved organic C had a positive correlation with soil CO 2 efflux rate in the CM, but had no significant correlation with that in the IM or the BL forests. Our study for the first time demonstrated that conversion of the natural subtropical broadleaf evergreen forest to Moso bamboo does not increase soil CO 2 efflux. However, when bamboo forests are under intensive management with regular tillage, fertiliser application and weeding, significantly more soil CO 2 emission occurs. Therefore, best management practices should be developed to reduce soil CO 2 efflux in Moso bamboo plantations in the subtropical regions of China.

Decline of soil fertility during forest conversion of secondary forest to Chinese fir plantations in subtropical China

AbstractThe effects of forest conversion on soil fertility are still not well understood in subtropical zones. This issue was addressed by comparing chemical properties of soil in a secondary forest and a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Hooker) plantation at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology. Total N, available P, ${\rm NO}_{{\rm 3}}^{ - } $‐N, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable Al3+ and H+ of soil were significantly lower in the pure Chinese fir plantation (PCP) than in the secondary forest while soil organic carbon (SOC), total K and exchangeable Na+ had a tendency to decrease in the PCP. In contrast, soil pH and percentage base saturation (PBS) significantly increased due to forest conversion, and available K, ${\rm NH}_{{\rm 4}}^{ + } $‐N and exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ tended to increase in the PCP. Some underlying processes responsible for the differences in soil fertility between the secondary forest and the Chinese fir plantation were low litterfall and root input to soil and site preparation in coniferous plantations. There was no significant difference in the effect of slope position on chemical properties of soil in the PCP and the secondary forest. Results indicated that the conversion of secondary forests to coniferous plantations leads to a decline in soil fertility. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Soil organic carbon stock and chemical composition in four plantations of indigenous tree species in subtropical China

AbstractSubtropical China has more than 60% of the total plantation area in China and over 70% of these subtropical plantations are composed of pure coniferous species. In view of low ecosystem services and ecological instability of pure coniferous plantations, indigenous broadleaf plantations are being advocated as a prospective silvicultural management for substituting in place of large coniferous plantations in subtropical China. However, little information is known about the effects of tree species conversion on stock and stability of soil organic carbon (SOC). The four adjacent monospecific plantations were selected to examine the effects of tree species on the stock and chemical composition of SOC using elemental analysis and solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. One coniferous plantation was composed of Pinus massoniana (PM), and the three broadleaf plantations were Castanopsis hystrix (CH), Michelia macclurei (MM), and Mytilaria laosensis (ML). We found that SOC stock differed significantly among the four plantations in the upper (0–10 cm) layer, but not in the underneath (10–30 cm) layer. SOC stocks in the upper (0–10 cm) layer were 11, 19, and 18% higher in the CH, MM, and ML plantations than in the PM plantation. The differences in SOC stock among the four plantations were largely attributed to fine root rather than aboveground litterfall input. However, the soils in the broadleaf plantations contained more decomposable C proportion, indicated by lower percentage of alkyl C, higher percentage of O‐alkyl C and lower alkyl C/O‐alkyl C ratio compared to those in the PM plantation. Our findings highlight that future strategy of tree species selection for substituting in place of large coniferous plantations in subtropical China needs to consider the potential effects of tree species on the chemical composition in addition to the quantity of SOC stock.

Soil-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases in subtropical plantations of indigenous tree species

Indigenous broadleaf plantations are increasingly developing as a prospective silvicultural management approach for substituting in place of large pure conifer plantations in subtropical China. However, little information is known about the effects of tree species conversion on soil-atmosphere greenhouse gas (GHG) exchanges. Four adjacent monospecific plantations were selected in subtropical China to examine the effects of tree species on soil-atmosphere exchanges of N2O, CH4 and CO2. One coniferous plantation was composed of Pinus massoniana (PM), and the three broadleaf plantations were Castanopsis hystrix (CH), Michelia macclurei (MM) and Mytilaria laosensis (ML). We found that mean soil N2O and CO2 emissions in the PM plantation were 4.34 μg N m−2 h−1 and 43.25 mg C m−2 h−1, respectively, lower than those in the broadleaf plantations (>5.25 μg N m−2 h−1 and >56.38 mg C m−2 h−1). The PM plantation soil had higher mean CH4 uptake (39.03 μg C m−2 h−1) than the broadleaf plantation soils (<32.67 μg C m−2 h−1). Variations in soil N2O emissions among tree species could be primarily explained by the differences in litter C:N ratio and soil total N stock. Differences in soil CH4 uptake among tree species could be mostly attributed to the differences in mean soil CO2 flux and water filled pore space (WFPS). Litter C:N ratio could largely account for variations in soil CO2 emissions among tree species. This study confirms that there is no GHG benefit of converting PM plantation to broadleaf plantations in subtropical China. Therefore, the future strategy of tree species selection for substituting in place of large coniferous plantations in subtropical China needs to consider the potential effects of tree species on soil-atmosphere GHG exchanges.

Dissolved soil organic carbon and nitrogen were affected by conversion of native forests to plantations in subtropical China

To better understand the impact of converting native forests to intensively managed plantations on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in subtropical China, we examined the seasonal patterns of water-soluble organic C (WSOC) and N (WSON) concentrations in soils in Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume) (CF) and bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox C.D. Chu &amp; C.S. Chou) plantation forests (BF) and adjacent native evergreen broadleaf forests (NF) in Ling-long Mountain, Zhejiang Province, China. The plantations were disturbed through surface soil removal and were fertilized and/or mulched, from which economic products (such as nuts and bamboo shoots) were annually harvested. We found that WSOC and WSON had large seasonal variations and were lower in the warmer than in the colder season. Average WSOC concentrations followed the order of BF (58.6) &gt; NF (35.1) &gt; CF (18.1 mg C kg-1), a pattern mainly caused by mulching in BF in winter and the removal of surface soil in CF. Soil total C and N followed the order of BF &gt; NF &gt; CF. The extensive inorganic and organic fertilizer application in BF caused WSON concentrations to be 21 and 14 times higher than those in NF and CF, respectively. Conversion of native forests to plantations lowered soil WSOC:WSON and soil C:N ratios. The seasonal dynamics of WSOC:SOC (soil organic C) and WSON/TN ratios followed the same patterns of WSOC and WSON, respectively. The impacts of forest types on WSOC/SOC ratio, which is a measure of the quality of organic matter, were dependent on seasonal changes of management practices and/or tree growth. Nevertheless mean annual WSON/TN ratios of BF and CF were 2 and 12 times that of NF, indicating that a greater proportion of the total soil N pool became solubilized in the intensively managed plantations. We conclude that land-use conversion and associated management practices had a profound impact on WSOC, WSON, and total C and N concentrations in the studied forest soils in subtropical China.Key words: Forest management, water-soluble organic C, water-soluble organic N, WSOC/WSON ratio

Observation and modeling of NPP for Pinus elliottii plantation in subtropical China

Based on the stem analysis of 59 individuals of Pinus elliottii in combination with tree biomass models, we calculated annual biomass increment of forest plots at Qianyanzhou Ecological Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences in subtropical China. In addition, canopy layer and community NPP were calculated based on 12 years’ litter fall data. NPP of the 21-year-old forest was estimated by using the BIOME BGC model; and both measured NPP and estimated NPP were compared with flux data. Community biomass was 10574 g · m−2; its distribution patterns in tree layer, shrub layer, herbaceous layer, tree root, herbaceous and shrub roots and fine roots were 7542, 480, 239, 1810, 230, 274 and 239 g · m−2, respectively. From 1999 to 2004, the average annual growth rate and litter fall were 741 g · m−2 · a−1 (381.31 gC · m−2 · a−1) and 849 g · m−2 · a−1 (463 gC · m−2 · a−1), respectively. There was a significant correlation between annual litter fall and annual biomass increment; and the litter fall was 1.19 times the biomass increment of living trees. From 1985 to 2005, average NPP and GPP values based on BGC modeling were 630.88 (343.31–906.42 gC · m−2 · a−1) and 1 800 gC · m−2 · a−1 (1351.62–2318.26 gC · m−2 · a−1). Regression analysis showed a linear relationship (R 2=0.48) between the measured and simulated tree layer NPP values. NPP accounted for 30.2% (25.6%–32.9%) of GPP, while NEP accounted for 57.5% (48.1%–66.5%) of tree-layer NPP and 41.74% (37%–52%) of stand NPP. Soil respiration accounted for 77.0% of measured tree NPP and 55.9% of the measured stand NPP. NEE based on eddy covariance method was 12.97% higher than the observed NEP.

COMPARISON OF THE PHOSPHORUS CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT CHINESE FIR CLONES

Background and Aims Phosphorus(P)deficiency is one of the main factors that influence plant productivity in agricultural and forestry systems. Fertilization and soil improvement are the primary practices used to meet the P demands of crops in traditional agriculture and of trees in forestry management. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), a fast_growing, evergreen coniferous tree with high yield and quality of wood, is the most important tree species of timber plantations in subtropical China. Since Chinese fir plantations range from about 20° to 30° N in latitude and 100° to 120° E in longitude, there are many different genotypes of Chinese fir among the forests in south China. Therefore, it is possible to select the Chinese fir clone with high phosphorus use efficiency. Methods Based on the pot experiment under the different phosphorus deficiency stress (heavy, medium, slight phosphorus deficiency and normal phosphorus supply), the dry matter accumulation, phosphorus absorption efficiency, and phosphorus use efficiency of eight different Chinese fir clones were analyzed to compare their phosphorus characteristics. Key Results There were significant differences in the dry matter accumulation, phosphorus absorption efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency among different clones under phosphorus stress. The dry matter accumulation and phosphorus absorption efficiency of different clones decreased whereas phosphorus use efficiency increased with increasing phosphorus stress. The dry matter accumulation of Clone 8, 9, 24 and 37 were influenced by phosphorus stress less than those of the other clones. Phosphorus stress significantly affected the dry matter accumulation of Clone 23. Higher phosphorus absorption and use efficiency in Clone 8, higher phosphorus absorption efficiency in Clone 24 and 37, and higher phosphorus use efficiency Clone 9 were found under phosphorus stress. However, the phosphorus absorption efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency of Clone 23 were lower than those of the other 7 clones. Conclusion High phosphorus absorption and use efficiency of Chinese fir are the major adaptive strategy under environment with low phosphorus availability.

Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in precipitation, throughfall and stemflow fromSchima superba andCunninghamia lanceolata plantations in subtropical China

Despite growing attention to the role of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in forest nutrient cycling, their monthly concentration dynamics in forest ecosystems, especially in subtropical forests only were little known. The goal of this study is to measure the concentrations and monthly dynamics of DOC and DON in precipitation, throughfall and stemflow for two plantations ofSchima superba (SS) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata, CF) in Jianou, Fujian, China. Samples of precipitation, throughfall and stemflow were collected on a rain event base from January 2002 to December 2002. Upon collection, all water samples were analyzed for DOC, NO3 −−N, NH4 +−N and total dissolved N (TDN). DON was calculated by subtracting NO3 −−N and NH4 +−N from TDN. The results showed that the precipitation had a mean DOC concentration of 1.7 mg·L−1 and DON concentration of 0.13 mg·L−1. The mean DOC and DON concentrations in throughfall were 11.2 and 0.24 mg·L−1 in the SS and 10.3 and 0.19 mg·L−1 in the CF respectively. Stemflow DOC and DON concentrations in the CF (19.1 and 0.66 mg·L−1 respectively) were significantly higher than those in the SS (17.6 and 0.48 mg·L−1 respectively). No clear monthly variation in precipitation DOC concentration was found in our study, while DON concentration in precipitation tended to be higher in summer or autumn. The monthly variations of DON concentrations were very similar in throughfall and stemflow at both forests, showing an increase at the beginning of the rainy season in March. In contrast, monthly changes of the DOC concentrations in throughfall of the SS and CF were different to those in stemflow. Throughfall DOC concentrations were higher from February to April, while relatively higher DOC concentrations in stemflow were found during September–November period.

Biomass, litterfall and the nutrient fluxes in Chinese fir stands of different age in subtropical China

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.), a fast-growing ever-green conifer tree with high yield and excellent quality, is the most important tree species of timber plantations in subtropical China. We investigated the characteristics of biomass, litterfall and nutrient fluxes in the 8, 14 and 24 year-old stands, representing the young, middle-aged and mature stands. The results showed that Chinese fir plantations in central Fujian province had high productivity, and the proportion of stem mass in total biomass was between 50%–70%. Chinese fir was low nutrient-return tree species with litterfall. Nutrient withdrawal from senescing needles was a strong age-dependence for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in Chinese fir. With a management system of such short-rotation and continuously pure-crop planting, harvesting timber can lead to great nutrient loss, which may be one of the causes for site degradation.