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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2020, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (5): 19-28.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20200503

Special Issue: 森林培育与经营

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Characteristics of Forest Ecosystem Carbon Stocks at Different Vegetation Restoration Stages in Hilly Area of Central Hunan Province, China

Zhenpeng Wang1,Jinlei Chen1,Shangyi Li1,Shiji Zhang1,Xi Fang1,2,*   

  1. 1. School of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology Changsha 410004
    2. Huitong National Field Station for Scientific Observation and Research of Chinese Fir Plantation Ecosystem in Hunan Province Huitong 438107
  • Received:2018-09-10 Online:2020-05-25 Published:2020-06-09
  • Contact: Xi Fang

Abstract:

Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the change trends of carbon storage and its distribution pattern(vegetation, litter and soil layer) within forest ecosystems at different restoration stages in hilly area of central Hunan Province of China, in order to provide a scientific basis for explaining the influence mechanism of vegetation restoration on carbon sink function of forest ecosystem, and implementing forest ecosystem carbon reservoir management measures in stages. Methods: By using the space-for-time substitution method, we selected four different types of ecosystems, comprising of Loropetalum chinense+Vaccinium bracteatum+Rhododendron simsii scrub-grass-land (LVR), L. chinense+Cunninghamia lanceolata+Quercus fabri shrubbery (LCQ), Pinus massoniana+Lithocarpus glaber+L.chinense coniferous-broad leaved mixed forest (PLL), and L. glaber+Cleyera japonica+Cyclobalanopsis glauca evergreen broad-leaved forest (LAG) to represent the successional sequence in the secondary forests in Changsha County, Hunan Province, China. Permanent plots were established in each ecosystems.Biomass was estimated by using the total harvesting method to establish relative growth equations of some dominant tree species and citing allometric equations of biomass of some dominant tree species. Soil samples (0-40 cm) were collected and divided into four layers (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and 30-40 cm). Carbon contents in plant, litter, and soil samples were determinated, and carbon storage of vegetation, litter, and soil were estimated. Results: Carbon contents of different components at different vegetation layers varied with vegetation restoration. In the same restoration stage, carbon contents of different components at different vegetation layers ranked in the order of the arbor layer > the shrub layer > the herb layer. Carbon contents of litter were highest in PLL, followed by LAG and LCQ as the lowest. Soil organic carbon contents increased with the vegetation restoration.From LVR to LAG, carbon storage of vegetation, litter, 0-40 cm soil and ecosystem increased by 70.80, 1.17, 67.05 and 139.02 tC·hm-2, respectively. The growth rate of carbon reserves in vegetation layer and ecosystem between different stage showed the characteristics of first fast and then slow. However the growth rate of carbon reserves in soil showed fast-slow-fast. Carbon stock within ecosystem showed a consistant spatial distribution pattern:0-40 cm soil layer > vegetation layer > litter layer in different restoration stages. With vegetation restoration, the contribution rate of carbon stock in vegetation layer to the ecosystem carbon stock increased, while that of soil carbon stock was in the decline, and that of litter carbon stock did not change. Carbon storages of ecosystem, vegetation, and soil were significantly positively correlated with species diversity index (except for vegetation), biomass in vegetaion, and soil organic carbon content. Conclusion: With vegetation restoration, plant diversity, vegetation biomass, soil organic carbon content, carbon storages of ecosystem and its each components (vegetation, litter and soil) increased. However the growth rates of carbon reserves in vegetation, soil and ecosystem showed different among different restoration stages. Therefore, it is an important way to improve the carbon reserve of subtropical forest ecosystem to promote forest vegetation restoration and improve tree species diversity, vegetation biomass, and soil organic carbon content in order to improve carbon reserves of the vegetation and soil by reasonable management measures in the early and middle of restoration stages, and to protect the above-ground vegetation and ensure the continuous increase of soil organic carbon content in the late stage of vegetation restoration.

Key words: vegetation restoration, vegetation layer, soil layer, carbon storage, hilly area of central Hunan Province

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