Influence of Forest Gaps and Litter on Growth of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis carlesii in the Pinus massoniana Pure Forest of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area

Da Lan Feng; Xiao Hui Huang; Yang Hui Geng; Heng Xing Zhu

doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.692.33

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HomeApplied Mechanics and MaterialsApplied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 692Influence of Forest Gaps and Litter on Growth of...

Influence of Forest Gaps and Litter on Growth of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis carlesii in the Pinus massoniana Pure Forest of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area

Abstract:

Taking Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis carlesii as test objects, which were both important dominant specises of evergreen broadleaved forest in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, we made gaps (57m²) in Pinus massoniana forest in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, and studied the effect of adding and removing litter under two forest conditions (gaps and under-canopy) on the seed germination and seedling growth of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis carlesii, moreover, analyzed the death causes of seeds. The results showed as follows. 1) In the forest gap, Castanopsis carlesii seeds covered with litter and that without litter both had significantly higher germination rate than that under forest canopy. Castanopsis fargesii seeds covered with litter in the gap showed higher germination rate as well, but the seeds covered without litter showed lower rate compared with that under forest canopy. 2) In the forest gap, Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis carlesii seedlings (including adding litter treatment and removing litter treatment) both demonstrated lower survival rate and plant height than that in the forest. 3) In the forest gap, the germination rate of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis carlesii seeds that covered without litter were respectively 60.22% and 45.06% higher than that of the seeds covered with litter, and so were the plant height, which were respectively 33.76% and 19.51% higher than that of the seeds covered with litter. Under forest canopy, the germination rate of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis carlesii seeds covered without litter were respectively 82.11% and 53.70% higher than that of the seeds covered with litter, however, the plant height of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis Carlesii covered with litter were respectively 28.79% and 59.78% higher than that of seeds covered without litter. Under this two forest conditions, the main reason that caused the death of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis Carlesii seeds after adding or removing litter was the decay of the seeds. Accordingly, making forest gaps and adding appropriate amounts of litter to cover on Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis Carlesii seeds were beneficial to the germination of these seeds, but litter would affected the survival and growth of the seedlings. Therefore, after seeds germinated, the litter over the seeds should be removed timely to improve the survival and growth of seedlings and promote the artificial regeneration of Castanopsis fargesii and Castanopsis Carlesii.