title: Development processes and growth pattern of Pinus densiflora stands in central eastern Korea.
abstract: Stand growth and developmental processes were investigated in Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zucc. stands of different ages in the central eastern region of Korea. Stands were inventoried and five trees per stand were sampled for stem analysis, age estimation, and growth analysis. More than 80% of sampled trees in a stand were established within 3-5 years, and most stands had a single cohort structure. The initial growth of pine seedlings was slow, but the height growth accelerated beyond 2-3 m height, 5-10 years after establishment. Linear growth was maintained until 10-12 m height, at which suppressed trees fell behind and might die out. The young stand was composed of pure pines, while few pine seedlings and saplings were found in the understory of older stands. The peak of diameter growth rate occurred around 5-15 years after tree establishment, implying that competition begins during that period. The pine stand development follows four stages: (1) the young stage when the growth rate increases and peaks; (2) the height competition stage when trees focus on height growth for light while maintaining a narrow DBH and height distribution; (3) the differentiation stage when suppressed trees die out, and the DBH distribution becomes wider; and (4) the mature stage when stands have a multi-canopy structure with a wide DBH and height distribution, while the understory is dominated by other tree species. The changes in growth rates and stand structure through forest development would be implemented to predict alterations of above-ground carbon sequestration rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-921, Republic of Korea. pspark@snu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Pil Sun
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Yoon
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ahreum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Woongsoon
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Yowhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Myong Jong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Byung Bae
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yeongmo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D005843:Geography; D007723:Korea; D028223:Pinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000254:growth & development