Changes in Soil Temperature, Moisture Content, Light Availability and Diameter Growth After Thinning in Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis) Plantation

摘要

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in soil temperature, soil moisture content, light availability (photosynthetically active radiation, PAR) and diameter growth in 46-year-old Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Siebold et Zuccarini) plantation located in Gwangneung experimental forest after 4 years from thinning. Three different thinning intensities (control, 45%(T45), and 60%(T60) basal area reduction] were applied in 2004. Mean soil temperature and soil water content were 8.9°C and 14.3% for control, 10.0°C and 16.1% for T45 and 10.2°C and 16.1% for T60, respectively. Mean soil temperature and moisture content were significantly different among the treatment plots (p<0.05). Mean PAR in control, T45 and T60 was 44, 143 and 178 mu mol/m~2/sec, respectively and the differences were also statistically significant among the treatment plots (p<0.05). Mean annual diameter growth in control, T45 and T60 was 0.4, 1.5 and 1.2 mm, respectively. Diameter growth of Pinus koraiensis was steadilyincreased after thinning in comparison to control. Consequently, the results suggested that soil temperature, soil moisture content and light availability were likely to last beyond the 4 years after thinning in this Korean pine plantation.