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Effects of thinning intensity on Pinus tabulaeformis plantation in Huanglong Mountain, Northwest China: A comprehensive evaluation.

GAO Yun-chang1, ZHANG Wen-hui1, HE Jing-feng1, WANG Jin-tang2   

  1. (1Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Ecology in West China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; 2Forestry Bureau in Huanglong Mountain, Huanglong 715700, Shaanxi, China)
  • Online:2013-05-18 Published:2013-05-18

Abstract: A sampling plot investigation was conducted on the seedling regeneration, stand growth, species diversity, and soil characteristics in a Pinus tabulaeformis plantation in Huanglong Mountain on the Loess Plateau of Northwest China after 7 years of closetonatural management thinning 15% (light thinning), 30% (medium thinning), and 45% (heavy thinning), with the effect of different thinning intensities evaluated. With the increase of thinning intensity, the amount and growth indices of 1-7 years old P. tabulaeformis seedlings increased, but the mean annual increments of the growth indices decreased after an initial increase, with the maximum under medium thinning. As compared with the control (unthinned plantation), the individual volume under light, medium, and heavy thinning was increased by 20.9%, 32.1% and 52.6%, the volume per hm2 decreased by 4.4%, 15.1%, and 25.3%, and the mean annual growth rate of volume increased by 28.6%, 46.2% and 82.0%, respectively. The species diversity and soil characteristics were improved under thinning, with the order of heavy thinning > medium thinning > light thinning > un-thinning. In this study, 45% thinning was most suitable to the management of P. tabulaeformis plantation in Huanglong Mountain.