Abstract: Litter accumulation can strongly affect seedling emergence and early growth through both physical and chemical mechanisms, and can further influence natural regeneration. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is one of the most important afforestation tree species. Its natural regeneration is poor, possibly due to the thick leaf accumulation inhibiting seedling emergence and growth. We used natural and plastic litter to study the effects of Chinese fir litter on its own seedling emergence and early growth, as well as to assess whether the effect was physical or chemical. In this experiment, two litter types (natural and plastic litter) and four different litter amounts (control, 0 g·m^-2; low, 200 g·m^-2; medium, 400 g·m^-2; high, 800 g·m^-2) were used. The results showed that compared to the control (0 g·m^-2), low litter amount (200 g·m^-2) exerted a slight positive effect on seedling emergence, whereas high litter amount (800 g·m^-2) significantly reduced the seedling emergence and survival rate in the case of both natural and plastic litter. With increasing litter amount, root length of seedlings decreased and stem length increased. The highest and lowest root mass, leaf mass, and total mass of seedlings were observed for the low and high litter amount, respectively, in the case of both natural and plastic litter. The root:shoot ratio of seedlings decreased with the increasing litter amount for both natural and plastic litter. The photosynthesis:non-photosynthesis biomass ratio of the seedlings was higher under all litter cover treatments, compared to that in the control. Because the effect of the same amounts of the natural and plastic litter on seedling emergence and early growth did not differ, the litter layer’s short-term influence was primarily physical. As the litter cover increased, the initial slight positive effects on seedling emergence and early growth could shift to inhibitory effects. Moreover, to penetrate the thick litter layer, Chinese fir seedlings allocated more resources toward stems and aboveground growth. This study provided evidence for litter amount being a key ecological factor that affects the seedling development and subsequent natural regeneration of Chinese fir.

Key words: plastic litter, physical effect, forest regeneration, plantation, biomass allocation