Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to investigate the variation in the decomposition degree of refractory substances in different structural components of fallen wood and provide a theoretical basis for the scientific management of Tsuga longibracteata forests.
Method Based on the fallen wood from Tsuga longibracteata forests within the Tianbaoyan National Nature Reserve of Fujian Province, the space-for-time substitution method was employed to examine changes in the content of refractory substances within different structural components (bark, sapwood, and heartwood) of fallen wood across four forest types (T. longibracteata pure forest, T. longibracteata + broad-leaved mixed forest, T. longibracteata + R. simiarum mixed forest, T. longibracteata + P. pubescens mixed forest) during the decomposition process. TChanges in the content of refractory substances within different structural components (bark, sapwood, and heartwood) of fallen wood were investigated throughout the decomposition process.
Results Results showed that: (1) During the decomposition process of fallen logs, the contents of cellulose, total phenols, and condensed tannins decreased, while the content of lignin increased. The condensed tannin content of fallen wood exhibited a gradual downward trend in the other three forest types except for the T. longibracteata + broad-leaved mixed forest, which showed an initial increase followed by a decrease with the increase of decay level. (2) There was a significant change in the content of recalcitrant substances in the fallen wood of Tsuga longibracteata. with a decrease of 100.08 g·kg−1(20.6%), 73.79 g·kg−1(15.0%) and 89.87 g·kg−1(17.5%) in the cellulose content of bark, sapwood and heartwood, respectively. The lignin content increased by 42.53 g·kg−1(37.7%), 36.71 g·kg−1(37.9%) and 22.25 g·kg−1(22.0%), respectively. The condensed tannin content decreased by 34.45 g·kg−1(47.4%), 11.02 g·kg−1(23.5%) and 16.83 g·kg−1 (44.0%), respectively. The total phenolic content decreased by 4.87 g·kg−1(57.6%), 1.78 g·kg−1(32.0%) and 2.06 g·kg−1(41.7%), respectively.
Conclusion In addition to its own C, N, P content, the content of refractory substances in the decomposition of fallen wood of T. longibracteata forest is also affected by the interaction of stand type and its structural components with stand type. The results provide a theoretical basis for guiding the management of Tsuga longibracteata forest.