Effects of strip-cutting on stand floor micro climate and tree-species diversity in a Japanese cypress plantation

Abstract

In a 21 years even-aged Japanese cypress plantation, we conducted investigation about the strip-cutting influences to the stand floor micro climates and vegetations for 15 months from cutting. The relative light intensity in the stand floor rose from 0.15 to about 0.3 in stand edge, and nearby 0.6 at the center of cutting area. Among the air temperature, air vapor pressure, soil temperature, and the soil water content in stand floor, soil temperature showed the most remarkable change at cutting area and stand edge. The diversity index (H') of stand floor vegetation was calculated from the population of sapling and area coverage. Immediately after cutting, H' of cutting area showed the minimum value. However, 15 months after, it was recovered even to the same grade as the stand interior. Through the investigation term, H' of stand edge was still maintain high value, and in addition, H' was rose in the stand interior. Strip-cutting has the feature in the broadly cutting area and edges, micro climate and the vegetation influences in the stand floor. These results were considered to be effective in the maintenance of the biodiversity on the Japanese cypress plantation.