Retention of harvest residues promotes the accumulation of topsoil organic carbon by increasing particulate organic carbon in a Chinese fir plantation

Background As commonly used harvest residue management practices in subtropical plantations,stem only harvesting(SOH)and whole tree harvesting(WTH)are expected to affect soil organic carbon(SOC)content.However,knowledge on how SOC and its fractions(POC:particulate organic carbon;MAOC:mineral-associated organic carbon)respond to different harvest residue managements is limited.Methods In this study,a randomized block experiment containing SOH and WTH was conducted in a Chinese fir(Cunninghamia lanceolata)plantation.The effect of harvest residue management on SOC and its fractions in topsoil(0–10cm)and subsoil(20–40cm)was determined.Plant inputs(harvest residue retaining mass and fine root biomass)and microbial and mineral properties were also measured.Results The responses of SOC and its fractions to different harvest residue managements varied with soil depth.Specifically,SOH enhanced the content of SOC and POC in topsoil with increases of 15.9%and 29.8%,respectively,compared with WTH.However,SOH had no significant effects on MAOC in topsoil and SOC and its fractions in subsoil.These results indicated that the increase in POC induced by the retention of harvest residue was the primary contributor to SOC accumulation,especially in topsoil.The harvest residue managements affected SOC and its fractions through different pathways in topsoil and subsoil.The plant inputs(the increase in fine root biomass induced by SOH)exerted a principal role in the SOC accumulation in topsoil,whereas mineral and microbial properties played a more important role in regulating SOC dynamics than plants inputs in subsoil.Conclusion The retention of harvest residues can promote SOC accumulation by increasing POC,and is thus suggested as an effective technology to enhance the soil carbon sink for mitigating climate change in plantation management.

Effect of Allelochemicals of Chinese-fir root extracted by supercritical CO_2 extraction on Chinese fir

Allelochemicals of Chinese-fir root was extracted by technology ofsupercritical CO_2 extraction under orthogonal experiment design, and it was used to analyzeallelopathic activity of Chinese-fir through bioassay of seed germination. The results showed thatas to the available rate of allelochemicals, the pressure and temperature of extraction were themost important factors. The allelochemicals of Chinese-fir root extracted by pure CO_2 and ethanolmixed with CO_2 have different allelopathic activities to seed germination, and the allelochemicalsextracted by ethanol mixed with CO_2 had stronger inhibitory effects on seed germination than thatextracted by pure CO_2.

Biomass, litterfall and the nutrient fluxes in Chinese fir stands of different age in subtropical China

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.), a fast-growing, ever-green conifer tree with high yield and excellent quality, is the most important tree species of timber plantations in subtropical China. We investigated the characteristics of biomass, litterfall and nutrient fluxes in the 8, 14 and 24 year-old stands, representing the young, middle-aged and mature stands. The results showed that Chinese fir plantations in central Fujian province had high productivity, and the proportion of stem mass in total biomass was between 50%-70%. Chinese fir was low nutrient-return tree species with litterfall. Nutrient withdrawal from senescing needles was a strong age-dependence for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in Chinese fir. With a management system of such short-rotation and continuously pure-crop planting, harvesting timber can lead to great nutrient loss, which may be one of the causes for site degradation.

Soil microbial properties and nutrients in pure and mixed Chinese fir plantations

An investigation on soil organic carbon, total N and P, NO3-N, available P, microbial biomass C, N and P, basal respiration and metabolic quotients （qCO2） was conducted to compare differences in soil microbial properties and nutrients between 15-year-old pure Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata） and two mixed Chinese fir plantations （mixed plantations with Alnus crernastogyne, mixed plantations with Kalopanax septemlobus） at Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology （26°45′N latitude and 109°30′E longitude）, Chinese Academy of Sciences in May, 2005. Results showed that the concentrations of soil organic carbon, total N, NO3^--N, total P and available P in mixed plantations were higher than that in pure plantation. Soil microbial biomass N in two mixed plantations was averagely higher 69% and 61% than that in pure plantation at the 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil depth, respectively. Soil microbial biomass C, P and basal respiration in mixed plantations were higher 11%, 14% and 4% at the 0-10 cm soil depth and 6%, 3% and 3% at the 10-20 cm soil depth compared with pure plantation. However, soil microbial C： N ratio and qCO2 were averagely lower 34% and 4% in mixed plantations than pure plantation. Additionally, there was a closer relation between soil microbial biomass and soil nutrients than between basal respiration, microbial C： N ratio and qCO2 and soil nutrients. In conclusion, introduction of broad-leaved tree species into pure coniferous plantation improved soil microbial properties and soil fertility, and can be helpful to restore degraded forest soil.

Studies on preparations and analysis of essential oil from Chinese fir

Three steam distillation devices (D-1, D-2 and D-4) or one simultaneous distillation (D-3, water-diethyl ether) as well as the process of CO2-SFE (Supercritical fluid extraction) were adopted in extraction of essential oils from Chinese-fir (Cunninghamia lancedata (Lamb) Hook.) and the chemical components of the extracted essential oil were analyzed by Gas chromatograph-MS analyses. The results showed that the essential oil could be almost extracted out within 2 hours and the device-3 had the highest extraction efficiency. The major chemical component of the oil was cedrol. The yield of the extracted essential oils from Chinese fir decreased gradually with the increase of the distillation time. The best condition for extraction by means of CO2-SFE is 100 kg·cm?2 in pressure and 40°C in temperature for. Keywords Chinese fir - Essential oil - Cedrol - Supercritical fluid extraction CLC number S781.4 Document code A Foundation item: This paper was support by the Key Foundation Research Project (G1999016001) of China and the Japan International Cooperation AgencyBiography: HUANG Luo-hua (1957-), male, Research associate, Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of forestry, Beijing 100091, P. R. ChinaResponsible editor: Song Funan

Rheological properties of low consistency TMP from thinning wood of Chinese Fir

The rheological behavior of low consistency thermomechanical pulp of Chinese fir harvested by intermediate thinning was analyzed. The results show that the apparent viscosity of pulp changed along with the beating degree, pulp consistency and shearing velocity. With the increasing of pulp consistency, the apparent viscosity of pulp increased gradually. Beating degree of pulp had an effect on microstructure of pulp. The apparent viscosity of pulp declined as beating degree of pulp increased, and the apparent viscosity of pulp fell along with the shearing velocity increasing. Based on the results, the rheological models are set up. The models showed that the fluid types of the low consistency pulp could be described as pseudoplastics fluids （non-Newtonian fluids）.

Seasonal Dynamics of Energy Return Through Litterfall of A Mixed Forest of Chinese Fir and T. odorum

Based on the measurement of monthly litterfall and their gross calor ic values, the seasonal dynamics of energy return through litterfall were determ ined in a pure and a mixed T. odorum (Tsoongiodendron odorum Chun) forests with Ch inese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) in Sanming, Fujian Provinc e. Annual ene rgy return through litterfall was estimated as 12.648×10 6J·m -2 for the mixed fo rest, being 4 2% higher than that of the pure forest, and a large proportion of the energy return comprised leaf litter. The conversion efficiency of solar rad i ation energy into litterfall was 0 56% for mixed forest and 0 54% for pure for es t, respectively. The monthly energy flux in litterfall of Chinese fir showed a t hree-apex curve, peaked in March, August and December, respectively, which was s imilar to that in various fractions of leaf, twig, flower and fruit litter. The consistency in monthly patterns among different litter fractions of Chinese fir was attributed to their solid connections all the while. The monthly energy flux in litterfall of T. odorum culminated in January, May and August, the same was true for its leaf and twig litter. However, energy flux in flower litter only oc curred during March to May and that in fruit litter appeared in January and Marc h. The monthly dynamics of energy flux through litterfall of the two forests wer e both determined by their respective litterfall pattern of Chinese fir. Seasona l energy flux in litterfall for both mixed and pure forests followed the sequenc e of spring>winter>summer>autumn, but fluctuations in the former were less disti nct than those in the latter.

Effects of Steam Heat Treatment on the Surface Contact Angle of Chinese Fir

The aim of this study was investigate the effects of heat treatment on the contact angle of Chinese fir, and the indicators affecting the change of contact an-gle change. It was determined that the duration of treatment had significant effect on the change curves of contact angle of Chinese fir wood due to the change curves of contact angle became more centralized and orderly after the specimens heat treated at 180 ℃. Compared with the untreated wood, the contact angle in-creased from 51＆#176; to 124＆#176; after 4 h treatment, and hydroxyl absorbance of hy-drophilic functional groups decreased from 2.08 to 1.63, while carbonyl absorbance from 0.92 to 0.62. The surface roughness has not significant influence on the con-tact angle. Heat treatment of the Chinese fir caused surface morphological change, which produced hol owed-out phenomenon. The increased surface contact angle caused by heat treatment can be used for outdoor and sauna facilities.

Fixation and Creep of Compressed Wood of Chinese Fir Irradiated with Gamma Rays

In order to discuss the mechanisms of permanent fixation of wood compression set , compressed wood of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) was irradiated by gamma rays from 60 Co. The irradiation doses were 0 (for match specim ens), 10 3, 5×10 3, 10 4, 5×10 4, 10 5, 5×10 5, 10 6, 5×10 6 Gy, res pectively. Then the weight loss, the equilibrium moisture content (EMC), the rec overy of wood compression set after adsorption (RSA) and the recovery after imme rsion in water (RSW), as well as the creep behaviour under a dry specimen condit ion and under an adsorption and subsequent desorption condition were measured an d discussed. This research proves that the doses of gamma irradiation have great effect on weight loss, EMC, RSA, RSW of irradiated compressed wood of Chinese f ir. The weight loss and the EMC increase, the RSA and the RSW fall drastically w hen the irradiation doses exceed 10 6 Gy. Both the instantaneous compliance and the creep compliance of the irradiated specimens under the two measurement cond itions show the general trend of increase with the increase of gamma irradiation doses. It can be deduced that decomposition or decrystallization reactions happ en in the wood cell wall at high gamma irradiation doses, especially at doses of around 5×10 6 Gy. In addition, this research proves that decomposition of mai n components of cell wall of compressed wood will lead to fixation of compressio n set of wood to a certain degree.

Effect of Allelochemicals of Chinese-fir root extracted by supercritical CO2 extraction on Chinese fir

Allelochemicals of Chinese-fir root was extracted by technology of supercritical CO2 extraction under orthogonal experiment design, and it was used to analyze allelopathic activity of Chinese-fir through bioassay of seed germination. The results showed that as to the available rate of allelochemicals, the pressure and temperature of extraction were the most important factors. The allelochemicals of Chinese-fir root extracted by pure CO2 and ethanol mixed with CO2 have different allelopathic activities to seed germination, and the allelochemicals extracted by ethanol mixed with CO2 had stronger inhibitory effects on seed germination than that extracted by pure CO2.

Effect of Slash Burning on Nutrient Removal and Soil Fertility in Chinese Fir and Evergreen Broadleaved Forests of Mid-Subtropical China

A Chinese fir forest (Cunninghamia lanceolata, CF) and an evergreen broadleaved forest (EB) located inFujian Province, southeastern China, were examined following slash burning to compare nutrient capital andtopsoil properties with pre-burn levels. After fire, nutrient (N, P and K) removal from burning residues wasestimated at 302.5 kg ha-1 in the CF and 644.8 kg ha-1 in the EB. Fire reduced the topsoil capitals of totalN and P by about 20% and 10%, respectively, in both forests, while K capital was increased in the topsoils ofboth forests following fire. Total site nutrient loss through surface erosion was 28.4 kg (N) ha-1, 8.4 kg (P)ha-1 and 328.7 kg (K) ha-1 in the CF. In the EB, the losses of total N, P and K were 58.5, 10.5 and 396.3kg ha-1, respectively. Improvement of soil structure and increase in mineralization of nutrients associatedwith increased microbe number and enzyme activities and elevated soil respiration occurred 5 days after fire.However, organic matter and available nutrient contents and most of other soil parameters declined one yearafter fire on the burned CF and EB topsoils. These results suggest that short-term site productivity canbe stimulated immediately, but reduced subsequently by soil and water losses, especially in South China,where high-intensity precipitation, steep slopes and fragile soil can be expected. Therefore, the silviculturalmeasurements should be developed in plantation management.

Effect of Mixed Forests of Chinese Fir and Tsoong's Tree on Soil Properties

An investigation and on 13 year old (1984～1996) Chinese fir and Tsoong's tree mixed forests in Jianou City, Fujian Province, China was carried out to compare the influences of different interplanting types of individual tree tree, row row, row strip (three rows) and pure Chinese fir stands on soil properties. Compared with the pure stands of Chinese fir, the mixed stands exerted a positive effect on soil fertility, with increases in soil organic matter, total N, available P and available K. Moreover, improvements were also observed in soil enzymatic activities, aggregate structure, structure stability, status of soil porosity, soil aeration and penetrability in mixed stands. The row row interplanted stands had the best effect on tree growth and soil properties among these mixed forests. In the southern subtropical region, the spreading of the row row mixing model of the two tree species would be helpful to preventing the soil from fertility deterioration caused by successive plantation of Chinese fir.

Effect of Continuous Plantation of Chinese Fir on Soil Fertility

The changes in soil fertility under continuous plantation of Chinese fir were studied by comparing soilsamples from different forest stands: the first and second plantations of Chinese fir, evergreen broad-leavedforests, and clear-cut and burnt Chinese fir land located at Xihou Village, Nanping of Fujian Province. Thesoils were humic red soil originated from weathered coarse granite of the Presinian system. Soil PH, CEC,base saturation, exchangeable Ca￣(2+), exchangeable Mg￣(2+) and Al-P declined after continuous plantation ofChinese fir. The same trends were also found in the soils under broad-leaved stands and slash burnt lands.The explantation was that not merely the biological nature of the Chinese fir itself but the natural leachingof nutrients, soil erosion and nutrient losses due to clear cutting and slash burning of the preceding plantationcaused the soil deterioration. Only some of main soil nutrients decreased after continuons plantation ofChinese fir, depending on specific silvicultural system, which was different from the conclusions in some otherreports which showed that all main nutrients, such as OM, total N, available P and available K decreased.Some neccessary steps to make up for the lost base, to apply P fertilizer and to avoid buring on clear cutlands could be taken to preventsoil degradation and yield decline in the system of continuous plantation ofChinese fir.

Soil C and N Pools in Chinese Fir and Evergreen Broadleaf Forests and their Changes with Slash Burning in Mid-Subtropical China

Soil organic carbon （C） and total nitrogen （N） pools of a Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook.） （CF） forest, and an evergreen broadleaf （EB） forest located in mid-subtropical, southeastern China, were compared before clearcutting, with the effect of slash burning on organic C and total N in the top 10 cm of soil before and after burning also being evaluated. Prior to clearcutting CF forest had significantly lower （P 〈0.05） organic C and total N in the soil （0-100 cm） compared to EB forest with approximately 60% of the C and N at the two forest sites stored at the 0 to 40 cm soil. In post-burn samples of the 0-10 cm depth at 5 days, 1 year, and 5 years for CF and EB forests, significantly lower levels （P 〈0.05） of organic C and total N than those in the pre-burn samples were observed. Compared to the pre-burn levels, at post-burn year 5, surface soil organic C storage was only 85% in CF forest and 72% in EB forest, while total N storage was 77% for CF forest and 73% for EB forest. Slash burning caused marked long-term changes in surface soil C and N in the two forest types.

Impact of Continuous Chinese Fir Monoculture on Soil

Soil properties were investigated in sites where three succeeding generationsof Chinese fir (Gunning-hamia lanceolata, (Lambert) Hooker) in Nanping, Fujian, China, werecultivated in order to show the impact of a repeated monoculture on site productivity. Compared withthe first generation (FG) stand the soil structure deteriorated in the second generation (SG) andthe third generation (TG) stands. For instance, the destruction rate of the peds increased by 55%-115% in the SG and the TG stands compared to the FG stand. Soil nutrient storage and nutrientavailability also decreased in the SG and the TG stands. For surface soils of 0-20 cm, the organicmatter content, total N and P, and available N and P decreased by 3%-20% relative to those in the FGstand. For many soil parameters, the differences between the FG stand and the SG and the TG standswere statistically significant (LSD test, P < 0.05). Furthermore, with each succeeding generation ofChinese fir, the total number of soil microbes declined, the soil enzyme activity weakened, and thesoil biological activity decreased. In order to maintain sustainable site productivity, newsilvicultural practices need to be developed for management of Chinese fir plantations.

Soil Fertility in Agroforestry System of Chinese Fir and Villous Amomum in Subtropical China

A trial of interplanting and non-interplanting villous amomum (Amomum villosum Lour.) under the canopy of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Hook.) at age 22 was established in Sanming, Fujian of China, and a survey on soil fertility was carried out 10 years after its establishment. Compared with the control (non-interplanting), the properties of soil humus in agroforestry system were ameliorated, with a higher level of humification and resynthesis of organic detritus. The soil microbial population and enzymatic activities were both higher under the influence of villous amomum. Both the nutrient supplying and nutrient conserving capacities of the soil were improved. This agroforestry system exhibited an advantage of improved soil fertility as well as an accelerated growth of Chinese fir, it was, therefore, a sustainable management system suited for Chinese fir in South China.

Comparative study on active soil organic matter in Chinese fir plantation and native broad-leaved forest in subtropical China

Active soil organic matter (ASOM) has a main effect on biochemical cycles of soil nutrient elements such as N, P and S, and the quality and quantity of ASOM reflect soil primary productivity. The changes of ASOM fractions and soil nutrients in the first rotation site and the second rotation site of Chinese fir plantation and the native broad-leaved forest were investigated and analyzed by soil sampling at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forestry Ecology (at latitude 26°48′N and longitude 109°30′E under a subtropical climate conditions), Chinese Academy of Sciences in March, 2004. The results showed that values of ASOM fractions for the Chinese fir plantations were lower than those for the broad-leaved forest. The contents of easily oxidisable carbon (EOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) for the first rotation of Chinese fir plantation were 35.9%, 13.7%, 87.8% and 50.9% higher than those for the second rotation of Chinese fir plantation, and were 15.8%, 47.3%, 38.1% and 30.2% separately lower than those for the broad-leaved forest. For the three investigated forest sites, the contents of MBC and WSOC had a larger decrease, followed by WSC, and the change of EOC was least. Moreover, soil physico-chemistry properties such as soil nutrients in Chinese fir plantation were lower than those in broad-leaved forest. It suggested that soil fertility declined after Chinese fir plantation replaced native broad-leaved forest through continuous artificial plantation.

Effect of temperature on soil respiration in a Chinese fir forest

Soil samples collected from the surface soil （0-10 cm） in an 88-year-old Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata） forest in Nanping Fujian, China were incubated for 90 days at the temperatures of 15℃, 25℃ and 35℃ in laboratory. The soil CO2 evolution rates were measured at the incubation time of 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 days. The results showed that CO2 evolution rates of soil samples varied significantly with incubation time and temperature during the incubation period. Mean CO2 evolution rate and cumulative amount of CO2 evolution from soil were highest at 35℃, followed by those at 25℃, and 15℃. Substantial differences in CO2 evolution rate were found in Q10 values calculated for the 2nd and 90th day of incubation. The Q10 value for the average CO2 evolution rate was 2.0 at the temperature range of 15-25℃, but it decreased to 1.2 at 25 35℃. Soil CO2 evolution rates decreased with the incubation time. The cumulative mineralized C at the end of incubation period （on the 90th day） was less than 10% of the initial C amounts prior to incubation.

Liquid penetration of freeze-drying and air-drying wood of plantation Chinese fir

A comparative study was conducted on liquid penetration of the freeze-drying and air-drying sapwood and heartwood lumber of plantation Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata）. The maximum amount of dyeing solution uptake by the capillary rise method was used to evaluate the liquid penetration properties of the treated wood. The pit aspiration ratio was determined by semithin section method. Changes in wood microstructure were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that compared with air drying, the freeze drying had a significant effect on liquid penetration of sapwood and heartwood of Chinese fir. The liquid penetration of sapwood is significantly higher than that of the heartwood for both drying treatments. Low pit aspiration ratio and cracks of pits membrane of some bordered pits are the main reasons for increasing liquid penetration after freeze drying treatment.

Conversion of pure Chinese fir plantation to multi-layered mixed plantation enhances the soil aggregate stability by regulating microbial communities in subtropical China

Background:Soil aggregates are the basic units of soil structure,and their stability is a key indicator of soil quality and capacity to support ecosystem functions.The impacts of various environmental factors on soil aggregates have been widely studied.However,there remains elusive knowledge on the synergistic effects of changing forest stand structure on soil aggregate stability(SAS),particularly in subtropical China where soil erosion remains a critical issue.Methods:We investigated variations in the components of soil humus(HS),including humic acids(HAs),fulvic acids(FAs),and humins(HMs),under pure Chinese fir(Cunninghamia lanceolata)plantation(PP)and multilayered mixed plantation(MP)comprising C.lanceolata,Castanopsis hystrix,and Michelia hedyosperma.The state of soil aggregate stability,was determined by three separate methods,i.e.,dry-sieving,wet-sieving,and the Le Bissonnais.High-throughput sequencing was used to determine the diversity and composition of microbial communities under PP and MP.We then built partial least squares path models(PLS-PM)for assessing the responses of SAS to the variations in soil microorganisms and HS components.Results:The MP stands had significantly greater SAS(P<0.05),higher content of HAs and more rapid organic matter humification within aggregates,than the PP stands.High-throughput sequencing confirmed that the Pielou andα-diversity index values(Chao1 and Shannon)for fungi were all significantly higher under MP than under PP,while no marked difference was found in bacterialα-diversity between the two plantation types.Moreover,there were markedly greater abundance of three bacterial phyla(Verrucomicrobia,Chloroflexi,and Gemmatimonadetes)and three fungal phyla(Ascomycota,Kickxellomycota,and Glomeromycota),and significantly less abundance of two bacterial phyla(Planctomycetes and Firmicutes)and four fungal phyla(Basidiomycota,Mortierellomycota,Mucoromycota,and Rozellomycota)under MP than under PP.The Chloroflexi and Ascomycota phyla appeared to be the primary drivers of soil aggregate distribution.Our findings revealed that the promotion of SAS under MP was mainly driven by increased soil organic matter(SOM)content,which altered bacterial communities and enhanced fungal diversity,thereby increasing HAs content and the rate of organic matter humification.Conclusions:Considering the combined effects of enhanced soil quality,productivity,and relevant economic costs,introducing broadleaved tree species into Chinese fir plantations can be an effective strategy for stabilizing soil structure against erosion in subtropical China.Our study elucidated the controls on variations of SAS in Chinese fir-dominated plantations and demonstrated the benefit of converting pure Chinese fir plantation to multi-layered mixed plantations in increasing soil structural stability and improving site quality.