Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China
<i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations harbor great potential for supporting ecosystem services, but this prospect is weakened under long-term traditional silviculture regimes. To reform these traditional silviculture regimes, we carried out a long-term <i>Eucalyptus</i> eco-silvicult...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/733 |
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| author | Lei Wang Xiaoguo Zhou Yuanguang Wen Dongjing Sun |
| author_facet | Lei Wang Xiaoguo Zhou Yuanguang Wen Dongjing Sun |
| author_sort | Lei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations harbor great potential for supporting ecosystem services, but this prospect is weakened under long-term traditional silviculture regimes. To reform these traditional silviculture regimes, we carried out a long-term <i>Eucalyptus</i> eco-silviculture experiment. However, the derived benefits and mechanisms that arise in mixed species stands under the eco-silviculture regime are not fully understood. Here, we evaluated tree carbon storage (TCS), understory vegetation carbon storage (UCS), floor litter carbon storage (FLCS), soil organic carbon storage (SOCS), and ecosystem carbon storage (ECS) in seven-year-old mono-specific plantations of a <i>Eucalyptus</i> hybrid (<i>E</i>. <i>urophylla</i> × <i>E</i>. <i>grandis</i>) and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i>, as well as mixed plantations of these two trees under an eco-silviculture regime in southern China. The results showed that the tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), volume, and biomass of eucalypt trees and <i>C. hystrix</i> in the mixed plantation were significantly higher than that of the trees in the corresponding single-species plantations. The mixed-species plantation had the largest TCS (84.33 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), FLCS (4.34 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), and ECS (313.31 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), as well as a higher SOCS (233.98 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), but the lowest UCS (0.96 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), among the three plantation types. The mixture effects analysis revealed significant synergistic effects (non-additive effect, NAE > 0) on TCS, SOCS, and ECS, and significant antagonistic effects (NAE < 0) on UCS. These synergistic effects were mainly due to the complementary ecological niches of the two species in the mixed-species plantation, which could potentially enable them to maximize the use of local resources, and to increase stand productivity and litter production. These results imply that beyond the gains in timber production obtained by having both <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>C. hystrix</i> trees growing in the same plantation stand, such mixed-species plantations enhance carbon sequestration to a greater extent than mono-specific plantations of either <i>Eucalyptus</i> or <i>C.</i><i>hystrix</i> trees. In conclusion, we suggest planting mixed plantations of species with complementary ecological niches under an eco-silviculture regime, to effectively resolve the contradiction between timber production and ecosystem services, and, thereby, also promote the sustainable development of <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-00c2339b03984e25b3c71ae6855f6dc02023-11-23T11:01:55ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-05-0113573310.3390/f13050733Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern ChinaLei Wang0Xiaoguo Zhou1Yuanguang Wen2Dongjing Sun3Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, Forestry College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaInstitute of Eco-Environmental Research, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, Forestry College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaInstitute of Eco-Environmental Research, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning 530007, China<i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations harbor great potential for supporting ecosystem services, but this prospect is weakened under long-term traditional silviculture regimes. To reform these traditional silviculture regimes, we carried out a long-term <i>Eucalyptus</i> eco-silviculture experiment. However, the derived benefits and mechanisms that arise in mixed species stands under the eco-silviculture regime are not fully understood. Here, we evaluated tree carbon storage (TCS), understory vegetation carbon storage (UCS), floor litter carbon storage (FLCS), soil organic carbon storage (SOCS), and ecosystem carbon storage (ECS) in seven-year-old mono-specific plantations of a <i>Eucalyptus</i> hybrid (<i>E</i>. <i>urophylla</i> × <i>E</i>. <i>grandis</i>) and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i>, as well as mixed plantations of these two trees under an eco-silviculture regime in southern China. The results showed that the tree height, diameter at breast height (DBH), volume, and biomass of eucalypt trees and <i>C. hystrix</i> in the mixed plantation were significantly higher than that of the trees in the corresponding single-species plantations. The mixed-species plantation had the largest TCS (84.33 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), FLCS (4.34 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), and ECS (313.31 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), as well as a higher SOCS (233.98 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), but the lowest UCS (0.96 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), among the three plantation types. The mixture effects analysis revealed significant synergistic effects (non-additive effect, NAE > 0) on TCS, SOCS, and ECS, and significant antagonistic effects (NAE < 0) on UCS. These synergistic effects were mainly due to the complementary ecological niches of the two species in the mixed-species plantation, which could potentially enable them to maximize the use of local resources, and to increase stand productivity and litter production. These results imply that beyond the gains in timber production obtained by having both <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>C. hystrix</i> trees growing in the same plantation stand, such mixed-species plantations enhance carbon sequestration to a greater extent than mono-specific plantations of either <i>Eucalyptus</i> or <i>C.</i><i>hystrix</i> trees. In conclusion, we suggest planting mixed plantations of species with complementary ecological niches under an eco-silviculture regime, to effectively resolve the contradiction between timber production and ecosystem services, and, thereby, also promote the sustainable development of <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/733carbon storagemixed-species plantation<i>Eucalyptus</i> plantationsynergistic effectsilviculture regime |
| spellingShingle | Lei Wang Xiaoguo Zhou Yuanguang Wen Dongjing Sun Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China Forests carbon storage mixed-species plantation <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantation synergistic effect silviculture regime |
| title | Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China |
| title_full | Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China |
| title_fullStr | Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China |
| title_short | Non-Additive Effects of Mixing <i>Eucalyptus</i> and <i>Castanopsis hystrix</i> Trees on Carbon Stocks under an Eco-Silviculture Regime in Southern China |
| title_sort | non additive effects of mixing i eucalyptus i and i castanopsis hystrix i trees on carbon stocks under an eco silviculture regime in southern china |
| topic | carbon storage mixed-species plantation <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantation synergistic effect silviculture regime |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/733 |
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