To evaluate the water conservation function of Betula luminifera plantations with different ages in Northwestern Guangxi
the representative 11 and 16-year-old B. luminifera plantations and 16-year-old Cunninghamia lanceolata were selected as main research object
and the water conservation capacities in three layers including the forest canopy
litter layer and the soil layer
as well as the comprehensive water conservation capacity were analyzed quantitatively. The results showed that:(1) The water holding capacity of the canopy
shrub layer and herb layer of the 11 and 16 year-old B. Luminifera plantations ranged from 12.54 to 21.06 t/hm2
2.15 to 3.05 t/hm2 and 1.27 to 1.52 t/hm2. The total litter reserve was 4.54~7.42 t/hm2
and the maximum water holding capacity was 12.55~16.00 t/hm2
which of 16-year-old plantation was significantly higher than that of 11-year-old plantation (P<0.05). There was a good linear relationship between the water absorption rate and water soaking time (R2>0.86
P<0.05). (2) The pore condition of soil followed the order of 16-year-old B. Luminifera forest > 11-year-old B. Luminifera forest > 16-years-old C. lanceolata forest
and the pore condition of soil was significantly higher in 0-20 cm soil layer than that in 20-40 cm and 40-80 cm soil layer. (3) The variation range of maximum water holding capacity
capillary water holding capacity and non-capillary water holding capacity of the 11-year-old B. Luminifera soil was 28.97%~60.55%
25.35%~47.21% and 3.71%~13.34%
and the range was 26.06%~63.45%
25.63%~48.70% and 3.34%~14.75% in 16-years-old B. Luminifera plantation
respectively
and all the values decreased with the increasing of the soil layer. The natural water content ranges of 0-80 cm soil layer in 11 and 16 year-old forest were 27.46~30.16 g/cm3 and 28.12~30.22 g/cm3
respectively
and total water storage capacities were 3 813.4 t/hm2 and 3 732.2 t/hm2
respectively
and all the values were greater than those in 16-year-old C. lanceolata forest (3 659.2 t/hm2). On the whole
the older B. luminifera plantation had stronger water conservation function
and it was superior to the same age C. lanceolata plantation. The results could provide scientific basis for the management of B. luminifera plantation in this area.
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Related Author
MA Zhiliang
ZHAO Wenqiang
LIU Mei
ZHU Pan
LIU Qing
WEN Linsheng
DENG Wenping
PENG Yun
Related Institution
Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Ecological Restoration Biodiversity Conservation, Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Science
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Sichuan Key Laboratory of Ecological Security and Protection, Mianyang Normal University
College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University
Laboratory for Forest Ecosystem Protection and Restoration in Poyang Lake Basin