Introduction to a Study on Afforestation by Native Tree Species in the Southern Shaanxi Province

Afforestation of abandoned agricultural lands with native tree species was undertaken in the Qinling Mountain in the South of Shaanxi Province.In a field experiment,four tree species(Chinese Red pine,Chinese Cork oak,Shandong Maple and Chinese Pistache) were studied in combination with two site cultivated techniques(with and without clearance of the competing ground vegetation).Survival and height growth increment of cultivated trees were used in assessing the success of the first year after planting.The survival of all investigated species was satisfactory,while the total height development was not the same for all species.Red pine was the only species that exhibited reasonable height increment due to the good quality of its initial planting material.Negligible height increment could be recorded for Maple and Cork oak.On the other hand,the Pistacia seedlings showed a decrease due to the dieback of shoots.Clearance of the competing ground vegetation had no significant effect on the survival or height increment.Long term investigation will provide reliable information about the success/failure of the afforestation by native tree species.