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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2016, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (5): 9-16.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20160502

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Mortality and Appropriate Topographical Conditions of Seabuckthorn Plantation in Semi-Arid Region of Loess Plateau in North Shaanxi, China

Chen Wensi1, Zhu Qingke1, Liu Leilei1, Ma Huan1, Zhao Weijun2, Wang Yu1   

  1. 1. College of Conservation of Soil and Water, Beijing Forestry University Beijing 100083;
    2. Key Laboratory of Tourism and Resources Environment, Taishan University Tai'an 271021
  • Received:2015-04-17 Revised:2016-03-29 Online:2016-05-25 Published:2016-06-01

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Abstract:

[Objective] Determining the appropriate topographical conditions of seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) plantations in semi-arid region of Loess Plateau in north Shaanxi could provide a basis for the stable construction and sustainable management of the plantation forest in this area. [Method] Seabuckthorn plantations with different topographical conditions were surveyed in Wuqi County, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province using the method of sampling plots. The mortality of seabuckthorn plantations in different topographical conditions were analyzed by correlation analysis and single factor variance analysis from slope position, slope direction, and gradients. [Result] The mortality of seabuckthorn plantations increased firstly and then decreased from the top to the bottom of slopes. Non-significant differences of mortality were showed among the slope positions, although it is 38% at the top, 47% at the middle and 31% at the bottom of slopes. The mortality of seabuckthorn plantation at shady slope was the lowest among all the slope directions, with the maximum value of 21% and the average of 4%. The highest mortality occurred on sunny slope, with the minimum of 33% and the average of 63%. The mortalities of semi-shady and semi-sunny slopes were between those of shady and sunny slopes, and the average mortality of seabuckthorn plantations was lower on semi-shady slope than on semi-sunny slope. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between the shady slope and semi-shady slope, semi-sunny slope and sunny slope. The mortality of seabuckthorn plantations on different slopes rose with increasing gradients. On shady slope, the growth was not obvious. The variation of mortality with gradients was logarithmic on semi-shady slope, linear on semi-sunny slope and exponential on sunny slope. The morality of seabuckthorn plantations had non-significant correlation with the slope position, but significant (P<0.01) with the slope direction and the gradient. Moreover, the effect of gradient to the mortality was stronger than that of slope aspect. Seabuckthorn forests on shady slope presented a slight degradation (mortality 0%-30%). Seabuckthorn plantations on semi-shady slope and semi-sunny slope were the same, of which the flat slope (5°-15°) and the gentle slope (15°-25°) displayed slight degradations, the steep slope (25°-35°) and the extremely steep slope (35°-45°) showed moderate degradations (morality 30%-70%). Seabuckthorn plantations of the extremely steep slope on sunny slope showed a severe degradation, and other three gradient sections had moderate degradations (morality 70%-100%). [Conclusion] In the semi-arid region of Loess Plateau in north Shaanxi where the average annual precipitation is less than 500 mm, the main cause for death of seabuckthorn plantations was lack of water. Suitable topographical conditions were shady slopes, semi-shady and gentle slopes, semi-shady gentle slope, semi-sunny flat slopes, and semi-sunny gentle slopes.

Key words: seabuckthorn plantation, degradation, slope position, slope aspect, gradient, semi-arid region

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