title: [Effects of thinning intensities on population regeneration of natural Quercus variabilis forest on the south slope of Qinling Mountains].
abstract: Taking the natural Quercus variabilis forest in Shangluo, south slope of Qinling Mountains as the object in May 2006 and August 2011, which was under close-to-natural management of different thinning intensities (30%, 20%, 10%), and the un-thinned forest as the control, changes of the stand growth situation before and after thinning, population regeneration, species diversity and soil fertility after 5 years of thinning were analyzed, and the effects of thinning on forestland revegetation and community development were evaluated comprehensively. The results showed that the number of 1-6 years old Q. variabilis seedlings increased with increasing thinning intensity, while no significant difference was found for above 6 years old seedlings. The regeneration potentials of population under 10%, 20% and 30% thinning were respectively increased by 10.8%, 28.5% and 32.9% compared with the control. Thinning promoted the DBH and crown of the trees and shrubs, as well as the height of shrubs, especially for light-loving plants, and the effect of promotion increased with increasing thinning intensity. The species diversity and soil fertility were improved after thinning, in order of 30% > 20% > 10% > control. The thinning intensity of 30% (canopy density 0.6) was more conducive to the continuable development of the natural Q. variabilis forest in which canopy density was above 0.85.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Wen-Hui
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jian-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D016468:Forestry / Q000379:methods*; D065928:Forests; D008027:Light; D011156:Population Density; D029963:Quercus / Q000254:growth & development*; D036226:Seedlings; D012987:Soil; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D012987:Soil