Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 974-983.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.06.07

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Carbon density distribution pattern and its factors of the artificial forest vegetation in opencast coal mine

ZHANG Jianhua1(), ZHOU Xiaoyang2, GUO Xuting1, DU Xinxin1, AN Li1, QIN Hao3, LIU Yong4, ZHANG Hong4, XU Longchao2()   

  1. 1. Department of Biology, Xinzhou Normal University, Xinzhou 034000, Shanxi, China
    2. College of Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi, China
    3. School of Statistics, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
    4. Institute of Loess Plateau, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
  • Received:2023-12-11 Revised:2024-03-29 Online:2024-06-15 Published:2024-07-03

Abstract:

This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the distribution patterns of carbon density and its factors of artificial forest vegetation in opencast coal mines and provide a basis for improving the forest carbon (C) sink service function using available data. It selected Pinus tabulaeformis, Populus microphylla, Populus canadensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, Ulmus pumila, and mixed R. pseudoacacia-U. pumila plantations in the waste dump of the Antaibao mining area as the research objects. The biomass carbon density and spatial distribution pattern of each plantation were measured based on the field investigation data and by employing allometric approaches. The carbon density of the P. canadensis plantation was 36.95 t∙hm-2, significantly higher than others (P<0.05). The carbon density was markedly higher in the thickly planted P. tabulaeformis forest than in the sparsely planted one (P<0.05). The overall carbon density of each component in the artificial forest was as follows: tree layer>litter layer>herbaceous and shrub layers (P<0.05). The tree layer accounted for 78.3%-93.6% of the vegetation carbon density, indicating it has the highest carbon density in the artificial forest vegetation. The carbon density in the trunk of the tree layer was remarkably greater than that of the roots, branches, and leaves (P<0.05). The carbon density in the trunk of P. canadensis plantation was conspicuously higher than that of R. pseudoacacia and R. pseudoacacia-U. pumila. Similarly, the carbon density was significantly higher in the trunk of the sparsely planted P. tabulaeformis forest than in the densely planted forest. The carbon density of the tree and litter layers demonstrated a remarkable positive correlation with the stand density of artificial forests and negatively with the height and coverage of herbs. Additionally, the carbon density of the tree layer was markedly positively correlated with the tree height (P<0.05). From the perspective of carbon sequestration function, a reasonable and dense planting of P. tabulaeformis and P. canadensis in the Antaibao coal mine waste dump is beneficial for the ecological restoration of the area, thus achieving sustainable development of the ecology and environmental security.

Key words: carbon density, biomass, plantation, vegetation restoration, Antaibao mine