Self-thinning lines and allometric relation in Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) stands

Abstract

We calculated a self-thinning exponent of 1.05 for tree mass using the 3/2 power equation in 93 Cunninghamia lanceolata plots. According to Weller’s allometric model, the self-thinning exponent for tree mass was calculated as 1.28 from the allometric exponents θ and δ. The both self-thinning exponents were significantly lower than 3/2. The self-thinning exponent of organs was estimated to be 1.42 for stems, 0.93 for branches, 0.96 for leaves, 1.35 for roots and 1.28 for shoots, respectively. The self-thinning exponent of stem mass was not significantly different from 3/2, whereas thinning exponents of trees, branches, leaves and roots were significantly lower than 3/2. The stand leaf mass and stand branch mass were constant regardless of the stand density. The scaling relations among branch, leaf, stem, root and shoot mass ($ \overline{M}_{B} $, $ \overline{M}_{L} $, $ \overline{M}_{S} $, $ \overline{M}_{R} $ and $ \overline{M}_{A} $, respectively) showed that $ \overline{M}_{B} $ and $ \overline{M}_{L} $ scaled as the 3/4 power of $ \overline{M}_{S} $, whereas $ \overline{M}_{S} $ or $ \overline{M}_{A} $ scaled isometrically with respect to $ \overline{M}_{R} $.

Keywords

Allometry / Tree mass partitioning patterns / Self-thinning line / Cunninghamia lanceolata / 3/4 power and isometric scaling

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