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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2021, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (11): 1-12.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20211101

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Survival and Growth of Reintroduced Thuja sutchuenensis Seedlings in Relation to Environmental Factors

Fanqiang Ma1,Quanshui Guo1,*,Aili Qin1,Zunji Jian1,Jiyong Huang2,Zhongbing Wang2,Quan Yang3,Shiqiang Zhang4   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, CAF Beijing 100091
    2. Mayun State-Owned Forest Farm, Kaizhou District, Chongqing City Chongqing 404500
    3. Administration of Chongqing Xuebao Mountain National Nature Reserve Forestry Bureau of Kaizhou District, Chongqing City Chongqing 404500
    4. Administration of Chongqing Daba Mountain National Nature Reserve Chongqing 405900
  • Received:2020-05-15 Online:2021-11-25 Published:2022-01-12
  • Contact: Quanshui Guo

Abstract:

Objective: The survival and growth of reintroduced Thuja sutchuenensis seedlings in relation to environmental factors were studied to reveal the main environmental factors that affect the survival and growth of T. sutchuenensis at the initial stage of reintroduction and to provide a scientific basis for habitat management. Method: Using typical sampling method, 142 plots of 20 m×20 m were set up in the T. sutchuenensis reintroduction areas in Kaizhou district and chengkou County of Chongqing city to investigate the preservation ratio, tree height, basal diameter, crown width, and 26 environmental factors including climate, topography, soil, vegetation, and human disturbance. Grey relational analysis was performed to reveal the main factors. The regression analysis was used to reveal the variations of survival and growth of the reintroduced T. sutchuenensis seedlings with the environmental factors. Result: The main environmental factors affecting the survival and growth of T. sutchuenensis seedlings were different in different places. In Kaizhou, the main environmental factors were type of land use and management, minimum temperature of the coldest month, mean annual temperature, slope aspect, content of available soil potassium, content of available soil nitrogen, and total soil porosity. In Chengkou, the main environmental factors were minimum temperature of the coldest month, mean annual temperature, mean diurnal range of temperature (mean of monthly), slope, content of soil total potassium, non-capillary soil porosity, and weeds coverage. In Kaizhou, the seedling height and basal diameter of T. sutchuenensis were significantly (P < 0.05) or extremely significantly (P < 0.01) positively correlated with the minimum temperature of the coldest month and with the annual average temperature. The crown width was significantly (P < 0.05) or extremely significantly (P < 0.01) positively correlated with the content of available soil potassium content, content of available soil nitrogen, and total soil porosity. The preservation ratio of seedlings was significantly (P < 0.05) negatively correlated with the content of available soil potassium. In Chengkou, the seedling height, ground diameter, crown width of T. sutchuenensis were extremely significantly (P < 0.01) positively correlated with the minimum temperature of the coldest month. The crown width was extremely significantly (P < 0.01) positively correlated with content of total soil potassium. The crown width was significantly (P < 0.05) positively correlated with the annual average temperature. The seedling height was significantly (P < 0.05) positively correlated with the mean of diurnal range of temperature. The basal diameter and crown width of seedlings were the largest on shaded slopes, and the preservation ratio of seedlings was the highest on semi-sun slopes. In land use and management, the basal diameter of intercropping with crops was the largest, and the basal diameter of the understory interplanting was the smallest. The crown width of intercropping with the medicinal plants was the largest, and crown width of the abandoned land was the smallest; the preservation ratio and height of intercropping crops were higher, but they were not significantly different from type of land use and management. Conclusion: Environmental factors, such as climate, topography, soil, vegetation, and human disturbance, had a certain impacts on the survival and growth of T. sutchuenensis seedlings at the initial stage of reintroduction. Among these factors, the effects of climate and human disturbance were dominant. The minimum temperature of the coldest month was the main environmental factor in Chengkou, and the land use and management was the main environmental factor in Kaizhou. The impact of the other environmental factors was relatively small.

Key words: endangered plants, Thuja sutchuenensis, initial stage of reintroduction, survival rate, growth, environmental factors, grey relational analysis, regression analysis, one-way ANOVA

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