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Effects of provenance and initial planting density on growth and wood properties in young sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) plantations

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Abstract

Provenance and stand management regimes greatly affect individual tree growth and stand productivity. The effects of provenance and initial planting density on growth and wood properties of 11-year-old sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima Carruth.) plantations in eastern China were investigated. The average tree height growth, calorific values, and ash content of stem wood were greatly affected by provenance but not by initial planting density. The average tree diameter varied significantly among the three planting densities (5000, 2500, and 1667 trees ha−1) from tree age 6–11 years, and density-associated competition between trees mainly occurred at tree ages 6, 7, and 11 years for different provenances. The initial planting density and provenance had significant effects on the stand basal area (BA) and aboveground biomass (AGB). The annual growth in BA and AGB decreased in the eighth year after planting, especially in plots with an initial planting density of 5000 trees ha−1. The variances explained by the provenance exceeded the variance explained by the planting density for AGB at age 11 years. No significant interaction effect between initial planting density and provenance was observed for growth traits, but there was a significant effect on survival rate. Therefore, the suitable combination between provenance and planting density is crucial to increase productivity of sawtooth oak plantations. Additionally, our study confirms that, when the stands were young, initial planting density had a greater effect on productivity than provenance did, but this pattern reversed as stands aged.

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Chunxiang Zhang and staff of Hongyashan Forest Farm for their help in field investigation. We also thank Editage (www.editage.cn) for English language editing. This project was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds of CAF (CAFYBB2018ZB001-3) and the National Forestry Public Welfare Research Project of China (No. 200704034).

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Correspondence to Mukui Yu.

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Cheng, X., Yuan, H., Xing, W. et al. Effects of provenance and initial planting density on growth and wood properties in young sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) plantations. Eur J Forest Res 139, 1067–1078 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-020-01308-1

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