Growth Characteristics of Liriodendron chinense Plantation

The study on species trial and plantation forest management showed that Liriodendron chinense is a good broadleaved species over the mountainous areas in south China with wide adaptability,fast growth in the early stage and high yielding.Three years after afforestation, L.chinense enters the period of fast growth.Under good site condition,the meanheight,mean DBH and volume increment of 8 year old L.chinense are 12.6 m,12.4 cm and over 16 m3·hm-2 respectively.Good site could be used to establish pure plantation stand with moderate tree density designed according to different cultural objectives.On the poor site, L.chinense could be planted with Alnus cremastogyne, Schima superba,Cunninghamia lanceolata and Fokienia hodginsii.Because of its rich foliage and litter,both the pure or mixed plantation could obviously ameliorate the soil fertility.