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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (3): 27-37.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20240232

• Special subject: Infusing science into the Great Green Wall • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Fuel Loadings and Affecting Factors of Pinus tabuliformis Forest of Different Origins in Shanxi

Yongming Sun1,*(),Binli Wang2   

  1. 1. Shanxi Academy of Forestry and Grassland Sciences Taiyuan 030012
    2. Department of Biological and Food Engineering, Lüliang University Lüliang 033001
  • Received:2024-06-26 Online:2025-03-25 Published:2025-03-27
  • Contact: Yongming Sun E-mail:1483199397@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of fuel loadings and its affecting factors of Pinus tabuliformis forest of different origins, so as to provide theoretical basis for effective management of forest fuel and prevention of forest fire. Method: The natural and planted P. tabuliformis forests of different forest districts in Shanxi Province were selected as the research objects. 53 sampling plots were set up in different forest stands with different canopy cover (0.2?0.9) and age to investigate the fuel loadings of tree layer, shrub layer, herb layer, litter layer and humus layer, and the altitude (701?1 739 m) of the plots and relevant stand factors were recorded. Firstly, the difference of various forest fuel loadings in different stand types were analyzed by multiple comparison method, and then the differences of fuel loadings at different age classes under different canopy cover were compared. Finally, the affecting factors of forest fuel loadings were determined by fitting linear regression models. Result: 1) The total fuel loadings of different stands of natural forest ranged from 44.2 to 182.18 t·hm?2, and that of different stands of planted forest ranged from 19.28 to 214.06 t·hm?2. 2) Multiple comparison results show that: in all kinds of natural forests of P. tabuliformis, the fuel load of the tree layer was the highest, followed by the humus layer. With the exception of the young forest with low canopy cover, other planted forests of P. tabuliformis also showed similar rules. 3) In natural forests, the fuel loads of tree layer, fine fuel and humus layer were significantly different under different canopy cover (P < 0.05), and the fuel loads in young forest was significantly different under different canopy density (P < 0.05). In planted forests, only the fuel load of the tree layer was significantly different under different canopy cover (P < 0.05), there was no significant difference in the fuel loads of other types of fuels (P > 0.05), and the fuel loads of young forest, near-mature forest, and mature forest were significantly different under different canopy cover (P < 0.05). 4) The linear regression results show that: the fuel load of natural forests of P. tabuliformis was negatively correlated to canopy cover (P < 0.05), but positively correlated to the altitude (P < 0.05) significantly. In addition, the fuel load of planted forests was positively correlated to tree height (P < 0.05) and stand density (P < 0.05) significantly. Conclusion: The variation characteristics of forest fuel loading and its influencing factors were different among P. tabuliformis forests of different origins (i.e., natural and planted forest), especially under different canopy cover conditions. Thus, it is necessary to formulate reasonable measures according to the nature of forest stand when regulating forest fuel, so as to effectively reduce forest fire risk.

Key words: fuel loadings, stand types, stand factors, fuel of tree layer, Pinus tabuliformis

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