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ABSTRACT Near-natural forest management plays an important role in the maintenance of the long-term productivity and soil fertility of plantations. We conducted high-throughput absolute quantitative sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to compare the structures and diversity of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities among a pure Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation (S), a Cunninghamia lanceolata-Castanopsis hystrix-Michelia hedyosperma mixed plantation (SHX), and a Cunninghamia lanceolata-Castanopsis fissa mixed plantation (SD). The results revealed that near-natural forest management improved the rhizosphere soil properties of Chinese fir, especially the phosphorus content. Rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of Chinese fir in SHX and SD contained higher total absolute abundances and more unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) than the pure plantation forest. Planctomycetes and Actinobacteria were abundant in SD, and Actinobacteria were enriched in SHX. The tree species also had an impact on the rhizosphere soil bacterial communities. For the rhizosphere soils of different tree species of SHX, the available phosphorus (AP) content of the rhizosphere of Chinese fir significantly surpassed those of Castanopsis hystrix and Michelia hedyosperma. Bacteria related to nitrogen fixing, such as Burkholderiales and Rhizobiales, were more abundant in Chinese fir in SD than in Castanopsis fissa. Acdiobacteria and Proteobacteria underpinned the differences found in the compositions of soil bacteria. The pH and soil organic matter were key variables influencing the rhizosphere soil bacterial communities. Our results demonstrated that in Chinese fir plantations, 12 years of near-natural management of introduced broad-leaved tree species can drive alterations of the physicochemical characteristics, bacterial community structure, and composition of rhizosphere soil, with tree species identity further influencing the rhizosphere soil bacterial community. IMPORTANCE Near-natural forest management is an important way to change the soil fertility decline and productivity reduction of pure Chinese fir plantations. At present, many detailed studies have been carried out on the impact of near-natural forest management on Chinese fir plantations at home and abroad. However, there are still few studies on the response of rhizosphere bacterial communities to near-natural forest management. Our study determined absolute quantities of Chinese fir rhizosphere bacterial communities in different mixed patterns. The results underscore the importance of near-natural forest management for Chinese fir plantation rhizosphere bacterial communities and provide new information on soil factors that affect rhizosphere bacterial communities in South China.

Knot-related defects are the major cause of timber quality degradation, and diminishing this kind of defects is an important issue in forest management. For the purpose of clear-wood production, knot attributes and branch occlusion of Betula alnoides under natural pruning were investigated in a 14-year-old experimental plantation with five planting densities ranging from 500 to 3333 stems per hectare in southern China, and a total of 1325 occluded branches from 30 trees were sampled and dissected. The mean occluded branch diameter (OBD), radius of knots and branch insertion angle (IA) decreased significantly with increasing planting density. Planting with high stocking density significantly reduced the frequency of thick occluded branches (diameter ≥ 20 mm) while increasing the frequency of small ones (diameter < 10 mm). Branch occlusion time (OT) also tended to increase with decreasing planting density. The results of generalized linear mixed models showed that OBD was the major factor influencing OT, radius of dead portion of knot (RDP), total radius of knot (TRK) and IA. In addition, OT was positively correlated with RDP but negatively correlated with stem diameter growth rate during branch occlusion (SDGR). Silvicultural strategies with appropriate planting density for large-diameter clear-wood production of B. alnoides were discussed.

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) is a fast-growing evergreen conifer with high-quality timber and is an important reforestation and commercial tree species in southern China. Planting density affects the productivity of Chinese fir plantations. To study the effect of five different planting densities and soil depth on soil nutrient contents of a mature C. lanceolata plantation, the soil nutrient contents (soil depths 0–100 cm) of 36-year-old mature Chinese fir plantations under five different planting densities denoted A (1667 trees·ha−1), B (3333 trees·ha−1), C (5000 trees·ha−1), D (6667 trees·ha−1), and E (10,000 trees·ha−1) were measured in Pingxiang county, Guangxi province, China. Samples were collected from the soil surface down to a one meter depth from each of 45 soil profiles, and soil samples were obtained at 10 different soil depths of 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, 40–50, 50–60, 60–70, 70–80, 80–90, and 90–100 cm. Twelve soil physical and chemical indicators were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) as planting density increased, the organic matter, organic carbon, total N and P, available N, effective Fe, and bulk density decreased. Soil pH, total K, and effective K increased with increasing planting density. Planting density did not significantly influence the exchangeable Ca and Mg. (2) Soil organic matter; organic carbon; total N and P; effective N, P, and K; exchangeable Ca and Mg; effective Fe content; and bulk density decreased with increasing soil depth. This pattern was particularly evident in the top 30 cm of the soil. (3) Excessively high planting density is not beneficial to the long-term maintenance of soil fertility in Chinese fir plantations, and the planting density of Chinese fir plantations should be maintained below 3333 stems·ha−1 (density A or B) to maintain soil fertility while ensuring high yields.

Six forest stands of 59, 34 and 24 year-old Pinus massoniana forests and their mixed forests were selected at the Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry of Chinese Academy of Forestry, and 20 m x20 m plot was set up and soil samples were taken from 0-60 cm soil layers, to analyze the changes of soil nutrient content under different forest stands and forest ages. The results showed that soil moisture and the bulk density in the mesophytic forest land were higher than those of other forest lands. The highest soil porosity value was observed in the early forestland. Soil pH of diferent forest was 4.45 - 4. 75 , indicating the variation was small. Besides, it indicated that the mixed forest was more able to increase the soil fertility than the pure forest because that the variation of soil acidity, organic matter content and total P and K in 34 and 24 year-old mixed forests were higher than those in pure forests of the same year old. However, the content of soil available P and K decreased with the increase of soil depth, and varied in terms of forest ages. From the changes of soil indicators in different forest lands, soil nutrients in the 34 year-old P. massoniana forest was superior to that of other forest stands [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]