Short-term effects of thinning on the understory natural environment of mixed broadleaf-conifer forest in Changbai Mountain area, Northeast China

PeerJ

article

Qiang Liu¹  Yue Sun¹  Gerong Wang¹  Fushan Cheng¹  Fucai Xia¹ 

[1] Forestry College, Beihua University;Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Conservation and Efficient Utilization of Characteristic Forest Resources of Changbai Mountain, Beihua University

关键词: Forest microclimate;    Soil environment;    Intensity;    Thinning;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.7400

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background The understory natural environment is critical in affecting the succession and recovery process of vegetation, stand structure, and species composition of forest. The thinning intensity could significantly change the forest microclimates and soil properties, therefore, to analyze the effects of thinning intensity on the understory natural environment of forest is of important significance for promoting the ecological benefits of thinning. Methods A total of 16 fixed sample plots with different thinning intensities were established in the mixed broadleaf-conifer forest in Jiaohe, situated in Changbai Mountain area, Northeast China, and the forest microclimates and soil properties were investigated after 4 years since the establishment of the sample plots. Results The results showed that the high intensity thinning significantly decreased the leaf area index from 4.13 (unthinned plot) to 2.21 (high intensity thinned plot), and the air temperature was increased by thinning from May to July. Comparing with the unthinned plot, thinning caused a rise of temperature (ranging from 2.11 to 6.74 °C, depending on the intensity of thinning) in May. However, it showed cooling effect in September and October. Besides, the air moisture of thinning plots was lower than the control plot in May and October, when the density of leaves is lower in the forest, and it even decreased 20.27% after thinning. The thinning intensity had no significantly effect on water content and organic carbon in forest soils, and only the bulk density in the top-layer soils in high intensity thinning plot was remarkably increased. Total nitrogen in soil was increased by different intensities of thinning, and the availability of nutrients for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in some soils were also affected.

【 授权许可】

CC BY