Optimum stand density of Chinese pine forests in Taihang limestone mountains, Shanxi Province

Abstract

Data analysis was made for 54 stands of Chinese pine forests for soil and water conservation and timber. The regression equations were drawn up on forest density and different rafter timber and bush coverage. Based on those equations, the number of rafter timber trees, storage, number of non-rafter timber trees, stand volume and the output value were calculated for six different forest densities ranged from 1250 to 6600 trees/hm². According to the economic and ecological criteria, the optimum density for Chinese pine forests was determined as 1650 trees/hm².

Keywords

Taihang Mountains / Limestone mountains / Chinese pine / Water and soil conservation / Timber forest / Forest density