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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2023, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (6): 1-11.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20220508

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Effects of Moderate Thinning on Biological Diversity and Soil Multifunctionality in Larix kaempferi Plantations

Hongxing Wang,Xiaomei Sun,Dongsheng Chen,Chunyan Wu,Shougong Zhang*   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Research Institute of Forestry, CAF Beijing 100091
  • Received:2022-07-29 Accepted:2023-05-09 Online:2023-06-25 Published:2023-08-08
  • Contact: Shougong Zhang

Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of thinning intensity on understory vegetation, soil microbial community and multifunctionality in a Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) plantation, so as to provide a theoretical basis for sustainable management of plantations. Method: A 16-year-old Japanese larch plantation in the montane region of eastern Liaoning Province was targeted, and three thinning intensities in standard plots were conducted in April 2019, namely control (2 000 trees·hm?2; canopy density 0.89); 30% thinning (1 404 trees·hm?2; canopy density 0.78), 45% thinning (1 106 trees·hm?2; canopy density 0.69). In July 2020, understory vegetation characteristics were investigated at the peak growth season, and soil samples were collected in spring, summer and autumn. Soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial community (fungi and bacteria) diversity and composition were measured. Soil multifunctionality was calculated based on 15 soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities parameters related to C, N and P cycles. Result: 1) Compared to the control, 45% thinning intensity significantly increased the diversity of understory vegetation, soil available nutrients, enzyme activity and fungal diversity as well as soil multifunctionality and the impact on soil properties was particularly pronounced in summer. The 30% thinning intensity significantly decreased soil multifunctionality in spring and summer, and had no significant impact on understory vegetation. 2) Thinning significantly affected the relative abundance of dominant phyla and classes of soil fungi, but had no significant influence on the relative abundance of dominant phyla and classes of soil bacteria. Especially, 45% thinning intensity significantly increased the relative abundance of Ascomycota in summer and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Basidiomycota in summer and autumn. The relative abundance of dominant phyla and classes of bacteria was mainly affected by season. 3) Correlation analysis showed that there were significant and positive correlations between the biomass and diversity of understory vegetation, fungal richness and soil multifunctionality. Structural equation model indicated that 45% thinning intensity had a significant direct and positive effect on soil multifunctionality, and had an indirect positive effect on soil multifunctionality by changing fungal community composition. Conclusion: Soil fungal community in Japanese larch plantation is more susceptible to thinning, while bacterial community is significantly affected by season. The 45% thinning intensity (canopy density 0.69) is more conducive to maintain the growth and development of understory vegetation, fungal diversity and soil multifunctionality than the 30% thinning intensity (canopy density 0.78) in 16-year-old Japanese larch plantation.

Key words: thinning, season, understory vegetation, soil multifunctionality, soil microbial community

CLC Number: