Abstract
The low hilly area is a major landform in the west of Henan province, China, and it is suffering soil and water loss because of human activities. The silvopastoral system that combines trees and grasses has been widely used to restore this fragile area. We conducted in situ field experiments in 2011 in the low hilly area of Henan province involving pure forests of Populus simonii (PS; Salicaceae), Platycladus orientalis (PO; Cupressaceae), Quercus variabilis (QV; Fagaceae), and Robinia pseudoacacia (RP; Fabaceae), and also with each forest tree species being combined with Medicago sativa (MS; Fabaceae) as silvopastoral systems, i.e., PS-MS, PO-MS, QV-MS, and RP-MS, respectively. We recorded tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (TH) in the years 2014–2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 for all the different vegetation types. Tree biomass load (TBL, i.e., tree biomass per unit area) was estimated based on DBH and TH using allometric equations for each tree species. Generally, the results showed that the DBH, TH, and TBL were promoted in the silvopastoral systems PS-MS, PO-MS, and QV-MS. Specially, the DBH and TBL of PS-MS and PO-MS tended to be higher and were significantly higher than the pure forests of PS and MS, respectively, in 2014–2016; the silvopastoral systems were not significantly different from the pure forests for DBH in 2018 and 2022, and for TBL in 2018 and 2020. TH was lower in PS-MS and PO-MS than that in PS and PO in 2014–2016, while there was no difference of TH between PS-MS and PS in 2018 and 2022, and TH was higher in PO-MS than that in PO in 2018, 2020 and 2022. The DBH, TH, and TBL were all higher in QV-MS than QV. The TBL in RP-MS was non-significant or lower compared to that in RP. Moreover, TBL tended to be lower in upslope positions than downslope in the pure forests, while there was no difference in most silvopastoral systems. In summary, PS and PO may be suggested as the tree species selection in vegetation restoration processes for about five years, QV may be a better alternative for a long term, while RP is not recommended.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
PS-MS, PO-MS, and QV-MS generally promoted diameter, height, and biomass load.
- Taxon
- treet0
- Treatment
- silvopastoral systems PS-MS, PO-MS, and QV-MSe0
- Outcome
- DBH, TH, and TBLe0
- Direction
- promotede0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“DBH, TH, and TBL were promoted in the silvopastoral systems PS-MS, PO-MS, and QV-MS.”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“DBH, TH, and TBL were promoted in the silvopastoral systems PS-MS, PO-MS, and QV-MS.”
Claim · model-written summary
PS-MS and PO-MS had significantly higher diameter and biomass than pure stands in 2014–2016.
Verbatim
e0“the DBH and TBL of PS-MS and PO-MS tended to be higher and were significantly higher than the pure forests of PS and MS, respectively, in 2014–2016”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“the DBH and TBL of PS-MS and PO-MS tended to be higher and were significantly higher than the pure forests of PS and MS, respectively, in 2014–2016”
Claim · model-written summary
Silvopastoral diameter differences were nonsignificant in 2018 and 2022, and biomass differences in 2018 and 2020.
Verbatim
e0“silvopastoral systems were not significantly different from the pure forests for DBH in 2018 and 2022, and for TBL in 2018 and 2020.”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“silvopastoral systems were not significantly different from the pure forests for DBH in 2018 and 2022, and for TBL in 2018 and 2020.”
Claim · model-written summary
PS-MS and PO-MS had lower tree height than pure stands in 2014–2016.
Verbatim
e0“TH was lower in PS-MS and PO-MS than that in PS and PO in 2014–2016”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“TH was lower in PS-MS and PO-MS than that in PS and PO in 2014–2016”
Claim · model-written summary
PS-MS and PS had no tree height difference in 2018 and 2022.
Verbatim
e0“there was no difference of TH between PS-MS and PS in 2018 and 2022”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“there was no difference of TH between PS-MS and PS in 2018 and 2022”
Claim · model-written summary
PO-MS tree height exceeded PO in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
Verbatim
e0“TH was higher in PO-MS than that in PO in 2018, 2020 and 2022.”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“TH was higher in PO-MS than that in PO in 2018, 2020 and 2022.”
Claim · model-written summary
QV-MS exceeded QV for diameter, height, and biomass load.
Verbatim
e0“The DBH, TH, and TBL were all higher in QV-MS than QV.”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“The DBH, TH, and TBL were all higher in QV-MS than QV.”
Claim · model-written summary
RP-MS biomass was nonsignificant or lower compared with RP.
Verbatim
e0“The TBL in RP-MS was non-significant or lower compared to that in RP.”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“The TBL in RP-MS was non-significant or lower compared to that in RP.”
Claim · model-written summary
Pure forest biomass tended to be lower upslope than downslope.
Verbatim
e0“TBL tended to be lower in upslope positions than downslope in the pure forests”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“TBL tended to be lower in upslope positions than downslope in the pure forests”
Claim · model-written summary
Most silvopastoral systems showed no upslope versus downslope biomass difference.
Verbatim
e0“while there was no difference in most silvopastoral systems.”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“while there was no difference in most silvopastoral systems.”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest PS and PO for approximately five years of restoration, QV for longer periods, and advise against RP.
Verbatim
e0“PS and PO may be suggested as the tree species selection in vegetation restoration processes for about five years, QV may be a better alternative for a long term, while RP is not recommended.”
t0“Tree”
t1“Tree”
e1“PS and PO may be suggested as the tree species selection in vegetation restoration processes for about five years, QV may be a better alternative for a long term, while RP is not recommended.”