Low phosphorus and competition affect Chinese fir cutting growth and root organic acid content: does neighboring root activity aggravate P nutrient deficiency?

Purpose In order to manage Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantations over the long term, it is critical to understand the species’ response to intraspecific competition at sites with low phosphorus (P). The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of neighbor competition on the growth of Chinese fir under low P conditions, as well as on the morphology and organic acid content of the root tissues.