Effects of Litter Thickness and Stand Density on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth in Coastal Pinus thunbergii Protective Forests
YU Xuening
TAN Huanpeng
TANG Zhibo
YANG Yaling
WANG Wen
MAO Peili
LU Xiaojun
Abstract：The coastal Pinus thunbergii protective forests have a certain natural regeneration ability,and the litter thickness and stand density may have a certain effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of P.thunbergii.The effects of soil litter removal(CK),and the litter cover thickness of 0 cm,3 cm and 5 cm on seed germination and seedling growth of P.thunbergii were studied in high-density and low-density coastal P.thunbergii protective forests in Yantai.The results showed that there was no significant difference in the germination rates between litter covering thickness of CK and 3 cm,which were significantly higher than those of 0 cm and 5 cm.The germination rates were also significantly lower at high density compared to low density.The litter cover thickness of 0 cm and CK had a high seedling diameter,relative growth rate,and low height-to-diameter ratio.The covering thickness of 3 cm had the highest biomass and seedling height.The covering thickness of 5 cm showed the lowest seedling diameter and biomass.Compared with high density,seedlings at low density had higher biomass,ground diameter,height,and relative growth rate,as well as a lower height-to-diameter ratio.Therefore,litter and stand density are important factors affecting seed germination and early seedling growth in coastal protective forests.
Keywords：litter thicknessstand densityseed germinationseedling growthcoastal Pinus thunbergii protective forests
Publication Date：2025-02-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-05-22(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 9-14 )