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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2015, Vol. 51 ›› Issue (8): 104-113.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20150814

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Effect of Mounding and Top-Pruning on Survival and Growth of Manchurian Ash Seedlings Planted under the Secondary Forest of the Species

Yang Bowen1, Hu Lijiang2, Shen Hailong3, Sun Xiangchen4, Zhang Peng3   

  1. 1. College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University Harbin 150040;
    2. Heye Academy for Health Industry, Zhejiang Heye Health Technology Co. LTD Anji 313300;
    3. School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University Harbin 150040;
    4. Hongshi Branch Bureau for National Forest Management Huadian 132400
  • Received:2015-02-05 Revised:2015-06-04 Online:2015-08-25 Published:2015-09-10

Abstract:

[Objective] Natural regeneration of Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) has been observed in conifer plantations, secondary forests containing Populus davidiana and Betula platyphylla and mixed hardwood secondary forests. However, successful natural regeneration is unlikely in pure secondary forest of F. mandshurica. The objective of this study was to provide some evidences to explain factors that might improve the survival and growth of planted ash seedlings. [Method] One-year-old manchurian ash seedlings were planted under a secondary forest of manchurian ash located at a low-lying site with seasonal water logging. Site preparation was conducted using mounding combined with clearing of ground covers. A randomized blocks experimental design was used and plots with no site disturbance was used as control. Seedlings were either top-pruned to a height of 8 cm right away after planting, or planted without any stem cutting (average height of control seedlings was 15.8 cm). The survival and growth of the planted seedlings during the first 3 years after planting and the surface soil moisture and temperature of the planted areas at the third year after planting were investigated and analyzed. [Results] Mounding combined with clearing of ground vegetation cover reduced the moisture of surface soil ant the extent of its variation. Mounding and removal of vegetation cover increased the temperature of surface soil especially during the primary growth season (May), and decreased the extent of temperature reduction in late growth stage (September) and therefore, homogenized the surface soil temperature. Mounding significantly increased survival and decreased mortality of the non-pruned seedlings, the increases of survival rates in the first, secondary and third year were 7.17%, 13.37%, and 15.56% respectively and the decreasing rates were 100%, 64.73%, and 20.89% respectively. This treatment significantly enhanced the root-collar diameter and height increment. For non-pruned seedlings, root-collar diameter was increased by 19.37%, 27.13%, 35.80%and height was increased by 100.53%, 50.00%, 64.17% respectively in the first, secondary and third year after planting. Mounding also increased the total biomass, total leaf area and number, and also increased the ratio of stem/root biomass. When planted at mounded sites, the top-pruning had no significant effect on survival or growth of seedlings. However, the survival rate and height increment of the top-pruned seedlings was smaller than those of non-pruned seedlings. At non-mounded sites, top-pruning reduced the survival rate. However, there was no significant effect on either height or diameter increment. The top-pruning increased both leaf-area and leaf number, and increased root biomass and leaf biomass. [Conclusion] Poor situation of soil moisture and temperature and the competition with surface vegetation were the two key reasons for the low survival of planted seedlings at non-mounded sites. Improving soil moisture and temperature conditions and reducing the competition from surface vegetation by mounding could promote the survival and growth of the planted seedlings.

Key words: Fraxinus mandshurica, survival and growth, biomass, mounding, site preparation, top-pruning

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