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Response of nonstructural carbohydrates to thinning and understory removal in a Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook] plantation

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Abstract

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This work provides insight into the functional changes in above- and belowground tree tissues/organs after thinning and understory removal.

Abstract

Non-structural carbon (NSC), which reflects the relationship between the carbon source and carbon sink, plays a key role in the carbon cycle in forest ecosystems. Although thinning and understory removal are two common measures in plantation management, limited information is available on the effects of thinning and understory removal on the NSC of plants, particularly of different tissues/organs. This study investigated the response of the NSC (soluble sugars and starch) concentration of different tissues/organs (current- to 4-year-old needles, inner-bark, xylem, and coarse and fine roots) toward thinning and understory removal in a plantation of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook), which is an evergreen coniferous species. Results showed that thinning significantly increased the NSC concentration of the needles. The NSC concentrations of the inner-bark and xylem did not respond to thinning. In contrast to the aboveground tissues/organs, the NSC concentration of the coarse root was significantly reduced by thinning. Thus, the thinning-induced NSC response of the above- and belowground tissues/organs varied, indicating that the NSC was remobilized after thinning. However, understory removal had a very reduced effect on the NSC concentration of all the mentioned above- and belowground tissues/organs. Our findings suggest the need to simultaneously consider above- and belowground tissues/organs in future forest management studies.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the key research program of Frontier Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant no. QYZDB-SSW-DQC002-03), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos. 41630755 and 31570402), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant no. 2017239), and the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, Grant no. 2012CB416905). We also thank Xiuyong Zhang, Zhengqi Shen, Xiaojun Yu, Ke Huang, and Munan Zhu for their invaluable assistance in the laboratory and field experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China

    Renshan Li, Qingpeng Yang, Weidong Zhang, Wenhui Zheng & Silong Wang

  2. Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, Huitong, 418307, China

    Qingpeng Yang, Weidong Zhang & Silong Wang

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China

    Renshan Li & Wenhui Zheng

Authors
  1. Renshan Li
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  2. Qingpeng Yang
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  3. Weidong Zhang
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  4. Wenhui Zheng
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  5. Silong Wang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Qingpeng Yang or Silong Wang.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by T. Roetzer.

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Li, R., Yang, Q., Zhang, W. et al. Response of nonstructural carbohydrates to thinning and understory removal in a Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook] plantation. Trees 32, 801–808 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-018-1673-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-018-1673-4

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