Song Siyu, Wu Zhangming, Li Cong, Zhou Yu, Chen Yamei, Hu Junxi, Cui Xinglei, Tu Lihua, Atta Asma, Ajayo Pleasure Chisom, Huang Youyou, He Xinhua, Liu Yang
Forest Ecology and Conservation in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China; Sichuan Mt. Emei Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Leshan, Sichuan, 614000, China.
Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, 637009, China.
J Environ Manage. 2025 Sep;392:126831. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126831. Epub 2025 Aug 6.
Improving stand spatial structure and establishing mixed-species plantations are recognized as crucial strategies for enhancing forest carbon (C) sequestration and soil health. However, the effects of different strip clear-cutting regimes on soil organic C (SOC) sequestration and ecosystem health remain unclear. In a 23-year-old Cryptomeria japonica plantation at Hongya State Forest Farm (Sichuan, China), we implemented three strip clear-cutting regimes (40 % intensity): S1 (10-m cutting + 15-m reserve), S2 (20-m cutting + 30-m reserve), S3 (30-m cutting + 45-m reserve), systematically evaluating their effects on C sequestration and soil quality. The results showed that all three strip clear-cutting regimes significantly reduced topsoil (0-20 cm) SOC, particulate organic C (POC) and mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) while increasing dissolved organic C (DOC), though summer POC elevated in S2 reserve strips. In the subsoil (20-40 cm), SOC stocks, POC, and MAOC increased in S1 and S2 but decreased in S3. Strip clear-cutting universally elevated the POC/MAOC ratio and reduced the C stability index (CSI), with significantly greater CSI declines in S2/S3 versus S1. The S1 regime demonstrated minimal sensitivity to microbially mediated C limitation, indicating superior C stabilization capacity. Furthermore, the soil quality index (SQI) significantly improved under all treatments, yet S3 showed markedly lower enhancement than S1/S2. This confirms that narrow strip clear-cutting optimizes spatial configuration as a key regulator balancing C sequestration and soil health. By demonstrating how optimized spatial design reduces C loss while enhancing nutrient cycling resilience, this study provides a viable pathway for sustainable close-to-nature forest management.
