Abstract:
Objective Based on the theory of diminishing return, this study investigates the allometric relationship between leaf mass and leaf area in Chinese fir across a chronosequence of stand ages, with an emphasis on identifying stage-specific patterns associated with forest development.
Method Chinese fir plantations aged 4, 10, 18, 23, 28, and 39 years at the Huitong Chinese Fir Forest Ecosystem National Field Observation and Research Station in Hunan Province, central China were selected. The diminishing-return patterns and age-related variations in the relationship between fresh mass and leaf area (FM-LFA) as well as dry mass and leaf area (DM-LDA) were examined.
Result (1) The allometric scaling exponent (α) for both FM-LFA and DM-LDA differed significantly among stand ages (P < 0.05). With the exception of FM-LFA exponent in 39-year-old stands, which was significantly greater than 1, all other α values were significantly less than 1. (2) Overall, α values for LFA-FM were consistently lower than those for LDA-DM, and the FM-LFA relationship exhibited higher goodness of fit (R2). These results indicated a stronger coupling between fresh mass and leaf area than dry mass.
Conclusion The allometric relationships of Chinese fir leaves are strongly regulated by stand age, reflecting dynamic adjustments in resource investment and return during leaf development. These findings provide new insights into the adaptive strategies of leaf functional traits during plantation development and offer scientific guidance for resource management and productivity enhancement in Chinese fir plantations.
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