Effects of Soil Loosening Operation on the Soil Physical Properties and Tree Growth in Phoebe bournei Plantation
In order to cultivate large diameter timber of Phoebe bournei,we conducted a 3-year soil loosening experiment on Phoebe bournei middle-aged stands.The main findings are as follows:loosening the surface soil,causing a decrease in soil bulk density,which increases year by year over time;an increase in soil capillary and non capillary pores,which decrease year by year;an increase in the natural moisture con-tent and maximum water capacity of the soil,and over time,the natural moisture content and maximum water capacity decrease year by year;the growth of stands is accelerated,and the diameter at breast height,tree height,and volume growth are significantly higher than those of for-ests without loose soil,and the larger the soil loosening area,the better the growth.For cultivating large diameter timber of Phoebe bournei,it is recommended to do soil loosening operation every 3-5 years.