Effects of thinning on non-commercial forest in eastern mountainous region of Liaoning Province.

A survey was conducted to study the effects of thinning on non-commercial forests in the eastern mountainous region of Liaoning Province by setting up sample plots in a Quercus mongolica forest and a weed-tree forest.The highest growth rates of diameter at breast height were found in the Q.mongolica forest 11 years after medium thinning and in the weed-tree forest after light thinning,while the highest growth rates of volume and biomass of undergrowth plant species were observed in both Q.mongolica forest and weed-tree forest after medium thinning.The Q.mongolica forest after medium thinning and the weed-tree forest after light thinning exhibited the highest leaf area indexes.Thinning has a significant effect on improving the amount and maximum moisture capacity of the litter and the water holding capacity of the soils in the Q.mongolica forest and weed-tree forest,especially for the medium thinning.