Stand structure influences understory plant diversity through soil factors: three afforestation types of Masson's pine in the upper Yangtze River, China.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

In general, mixed forests have the potential to enhance understory plant diversity. However, the effects of stand spatial structure formed by different types of mixed afforestation on understory plants communities are still not clear.

Methods

To answer these questions, we examined the stand spatial structure's impact on soil (nitrogen, phosphrous, potassium, etc.) and understory plant communities (diversity indexes, ecological niche width and resource overlap of shrub and herb) in three types of Pinus massoniana afforestation: a monoculture (MPF), a mixed forest with Cunninghamia lanceolata (MCLMF), and a mixed forest with Liquidambar formosana (MLMF).

Results

MCLMF substantially increased diversity and ecological niche width for understor

SUBMITTER: Xiang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12162520 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature