Abstract:
To explore the restoration effect of the integrated tending scheme of "shrub-weeding + reasonable pruning + formula fertilization" on moderately degraded Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations in northwest Fujian, a 13-year-old degraded Chinese fir stand in Dayuan Township of Jiangle County was selected as the research object. Standardized comprehensive tending was implemented in November 2022, and tree-growth indicators were monitored. Post-tending growth was assessed at the 3rd year(October 2025). The results showed that comprehensive tending could significantly restore the growth capacity of degraded Chinese fir. Compared with the control group, the average annual increments of DBH, tree height, crown width and individual-tree volume in the tending group increased by 33.5%, 25.0%, 18.6% and 36.5%, respectively. There were extremely significant inter-group differences in all four indicators(P<0.01). The increase amplitude of DBH growth of Chinese fir under tending treatment was greater than that of tree height, and compensatory growth occurred in crown width. The volume-to-DBH ratio analysis showed that tending significantly improved stem fullness and diameter-volume conversion efficiency, with simultaneous improvement in tree growth and stem quality. This study can provide references for precise tending and forest-quality improvement of degraded Chinese fir stands in the region.