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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2026, Vol. 62 ›› Issue (2): 15-24.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20250256

• Frontiers and hot topics • Previous Articles    

Growth Model of Arbor Carbon Storage in Typical Forest Stands in the Mid-Subtropical Zone of China

Huiling Tian1,Jianhua Zhu2,Xiao He1,Xinyun Chen3,Ran Wang4,Wenfa Xiao2,Xiangdong Lei1,*()   

  1. 1. Institute of Forest Resource Information Techniques, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    2. Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry/Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Beijing 100091
    3. Academy of Inventory and Planning, National Forestry and Grassland Administration Beijing 100714
    4. Henan Provincial Forestry Ecological Construction and Development Center Zhengzhou 450000
  • Received:2025-04-27 Revised:2025-06-16 Online:2026-02-25 Published:2026-03-04
  • Contact: Xiangdong Lei E-mail:xdlei@ifrit.ac.cn

Abstract:

Objective: Through integrating site factors, forest age, and stand density effects, a growth model of arbor carbon storage in typical forest stands in the mid-subtropical zone of China was constructed to accurately analyze growth dynamics in stand carbon storage, providing guidance for estimating forest carbon sequestration potential. Method: This study focused on typical forest types in the mid-subtropical zone of China. The survey data from 30 700 permanent forest plots in three continuous national forest inventories were collected. A site classification algorithm based on stand mean height growth was employed to categorize site class. With the stand mean age, site class, and stand density index as explanatory variables, stand carbon storage growth models were constructed under different forest origins (natural vs. planted) by region and dominant tree species (groups). The study further analyzed the growth dynamics of stand carbon storage. Result: 1) All mean height growth models for mid-subtropical forest stands achieved excellent goodness-of-fit, with R2≥0.931. The total height growth had a positive correlation with site class. The cumulative height growth across five site classes followed an approximately arithmetic sequence, indicating effective classification. 2) The stand carbon storage growth models based on site class, stand mean age and stand density index all reached satisfactory predictive accuracy (R2≥0.633). The model performance for different forest origins varied: for coniferous pure forest, the models showed better fit in plantations than natural forests, while for mixed forest, the models performed better in natural forests. Additionally, the models generally outperformed for coniferous species than broadleaved species. 3) All carbon storage models revealed that asymptotic values followed a decreasing trend (a1>a2>a3>a4>a5) across site classes, with nearly constant differences between adjacent grades. Natural forests exhibited higher maximum carbon storage per hectare than plantations, and broadleaved mixed forests consistently demonstrated high carbon storage potential across all origins. 4) Under medium-quality site conditions, both plantation and natural forest carbon storage increased with stand age and tended to stabilize at near-mature and mature stages, though plantations reached their inflection points earlier than natural forests. Conclusion: The established stand mean height growth models and stand carbon storage growth models for various forest types demonstrate satisfactory fitting effect and high predictive accuracy. The developed stand carbon storage growth model, incorporating stand origin, stand age, site class, and stand density index, can effectively predict the dynamic changes of stand carbon storage with age for major tree species (groups) across different site classes in this region. Furthermore, this model can be applied to compile carbon accounting tables for typical forest types in the region.

Key words: high growth model, site class, stand density, stand carbon storage growth model

CLC Number: