Table 3 The stand characteristics and vegetation community composition of Chinese fir plantations and natural secondary forests with different stand ages.

From: Litter decomposition and nutrient release are faster under secondary forests than under Chinese fir plantations with forest development

Plot

N

Stand density (stems/ha)

Mean DBH (cm)

Basal area (m2/ha)

Stand composition (% of stand basal area)

Chinese fir

Castanopsis carlesii

Castanopsis fargesii

Schima superba

Castanopsis faberi

Castanopsis fissa

Othera

CF8

3

3088 ± 804

12.28 ± 0.68

32 ± 2.95

97 ± 2

0

0

0

0

0

3 ± 2

CF21

3

1400 ± 352

19.81 ± 1.01

40.2 ± 7

93 ± 3.5

0

0

0

0

0

6 ± 3.5

CF27

3

1863 ± 444

23.22 ± 1.37

43.8 ± 8.45

96 ± 2

0

0

0

0

0

3 ± 2

CF40

3

1142 ± 291

27.85 ± 1.94

43.4 ± 5.3

92 ± 3

0

5 ± 1

0

0

0

3 ± 1.5

NF10

3

2739 ± 110

9.32 ± 2

23.2 ± 4.1

0

1 ± 0.5

14 ± 6

3 ± 1

0

20 ± 9.5

62 ± 14.5

NF18

3

2244 ± 283

10.9 ± 1.4

25.7 ± 2.4

3 ± 1

9 ± 8

46 ± 3.5

6 ± 4

4 ± 3.5

0

32 ± 4.5

NF28

3

2658 ± 240

11.1 ± 0.2

31.1 ± 3.7

2 ± 1

0

41 ± 5.5

10 ± 3.5

4 ± 4

4 ± 3.5

39 ± 5.5

NF38

3

1739 ± 255

12.1 ± 0.6

27.7 ± 2.1

3 ± 1

11 ± 9.5

34 ± 12.5

26 ± 20.5

4 ± 4

0

22 ± 6.5

NF100

3

1179 ± 109

16.4 ± 1.4

56.8 ± 6.8

0

58 ± 21

0

1 ± 0.5

8 ± 4.5

0

33 ± 17.5

  1. The others’ category included Cinnamomum micranthum, Pinus massoniana, Sloanea sinensis, Cyclobalanopsis glauca, Cinnamomum camphora, Lithocarpus glaber, Meliosma rigida, Machilus chekiangensis, Liquidambar formosana, Cinnamomum porrectum, Micromelum falcatum, Illicium lanceolatum, Rapanea neriifolia, Engelhardtia fenzlii, Machilus versicolora, Eurya loquaiana, Rhododendron henryi, Phyllostachys heterocycle, Phoebe bournei, Ormosia xylocarpa, Castanopsis tibetana, Castanopsis eyrei, Neolitsea aurata, Adinandra millettii, Illicium ternstroemioides and Machilus velutina.