Depth-driven responses of microbial residual carbon to nitrogen addition approaches in a tropical forest: Canopy addition versus understory addition.

Canopies play an important role in nitrogen (N) redistribution in forest ecosystems, and ignoring the canopy's role might bias estimates of the ecological consequences of anthropogenic atmospheric N deposition. We investigated the effects of the approach of N addition (Canopy addition vs. Understory addition) and level of N addition (25 kg N ha-1yr-1 vs. 50 kg N ha-1yr-1) on microbial residual carbon (MRC) accumulation in topsoil and subsoil. We found that the response of MRC to both approach and level of N addition varied greatly with soil depth in a tropical forest over eight years of continuous N addition. Specifically, N addition enhanced the accumulation of fungal and total MRC and their contribution to soil organic C (SOC) pools in the topsoil, whereas it decreased the contribution of fungal and total MRC to SOC in the subsoil. The contrasting effects of N addition on MRC contribution at varying soil depths were associated with the distinct response of microbial residues production. Understory N addition showed overall greater effects on MRC accumulation than canopy N addition did. Our results suggest that the canopy plays an important role in buffering the impacts of anthropogenic atmospheric N deposition on soil C cycling in tropical forests. The depth-dependent response of microbial residues to N addition also highlights the urgent need for further studies of different response mechanisms at different soil depths.

Leaf hydraulic acclimation to nitrogen addition of two dominant tree species in a subtropical forest.

Plant hydraulic traits have been shown to be sensitive to changes in nitrogen (N) availability in short-term studies largely using seedlings or saplings. The extent and the magnitude of N-sensitivity of the field grown mature trees in long-term experiments, however, are relatively unknown. Here, we investigated responses of leaf water relations and morphological and anatomical traits of two dominant tree species (Castanopsis chinensis and Schima superba) to a six-year canopy N addition in a subtropical forest. We found that N addition increased leaf hydraulic conductivity in both species along with higher transpiration rate and less negative water potential at 50% loss of leaf hydraulic conductivity and at leaf turgor loss point. Examination of leaf morphological and anatomical traits revealed that increased leaf hydraulic efficiency was at least in part due to increased vessel diameter which also compromised the hydraulic safety under increased water stress. Moreover, reduced vessel reinforcement and increased thickness shrinkage index further interpreted the increases in leaf hydraulic vulnerability under N addition. Our results demonstrated that N deposition may lead to increases of plant water loss to the atmosphere as well as tree vulnerability to drought.

Effects of urbanization on plant phosphorus availability in broadleaf and needleleaf subtropical forests.

Urbanization, the migration of populations from rural to urban areas, has been causing great stress on natural environments, leading to air pollution and nitrogen (N) deposition, negatively affecting forest health. Although there is evidence that urbanization has changed forest N cycling, little is known about whether urbanization also changes the availability of phosphorus (P), which is important for plant growth and forest productivity. To address this question, we carried out a survey in the Pearl River Delta region, the world's largest urban area in southern China, using two types of representative forests, the evergreen broadleaf forests (BFs) and pine plantations (PPs). The leaf N:P ratios in the two forest types were high (20-50) with a significant increasing pattern along the rural-to-urban gradient. The ratios of leaf P:K and P:Na declined along the rural-to-urban gradient, whereas leaf P content did not change in BF but decreased in PP along the rural-to-urban gradient, suggesting that leaf P became limiting along urbanization. The abundance of actinomycetes and gram-negative bacteria decreased along the rural-to-urban gradient, indicating the negative effects of urbanization on soil microorganisms. Principal component analysis indicated that divergent key factors respond to the urbanization and affect plant P limitation in the two forest types. In BF, broadleaf trees showed a greater response to N deposition from urbanization indicating direct leaf N uptake from N deposition is a key factor for plant P limitation. Alternatively, in PP, our findings suggest soil acidification is an important factor accelerating plant P limitation. Our study revealed that urbanization intensifies plant P limitation in subtropical forests, and the effects vary depending on forest types. Our findings provide empirical information to support the management of forest ecosystems and evaluation of urbanization effects on forest health.

Sulfur deposition still contributes to forest soil acidification in the Pearl River Delta, South China, despite the control of sulfur dioxide emission since 2001.

Sulfur dioxide emissions have been regulated at a global scale; sulfur (S) deposition no longer contributes to soil acidification instead of an alleviation effect in temperate regions; however, it remains unclear whether S deposition still contributes to soil acidification in the tropics. The Pearl River Delta (PRD), South China, has been suffering serious soil acidification, but the contribution of S deposition was ignored because of the regulation of S emission since 2001. Here, we chose the evergreen broadleaf forests, which are the typical forest type at the regional scale in PRD to examine the contribution of S deposition and its characteristics in this acidification, based on an established urban-rural gradient in the range of 260 km. A substantial acidification was evidenced by the significant decline of soil pH from rural to urban sites, with mean pH values decreased by more than 0.60 U through the whole 40-cm depths. However, there was no significant difference in soil pH from 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and to 20-40 cm at each site (P > 0.05). Acid-neutralizing capacity (ANC) showed a similar trend to soil pH, with a significant decline along the urbanization gradient and no significant effect of soil depths. Soil sulfate (SO42-), as the most abundant species in ANC, contributed greatly to soil acidification for the whole 40-cm depth, as shown by the significant positive relationships between it with soil pH and base cations. Soils also exhibited the depletion of base cations with low base saturation (< 20%) and the release of Al and Fe. Our research demonstrated that the severe soil acidification in the PRD region has extended to the subsoil level (40-cm depth), and S deposition is still an important driver to this acidification. Therefore, both recovering the acidified soils and controlling the acidifying pollutants, especially S, are particularly difficult in southern China.

Alterations in leaf nitrogen metabolism indicated the structural changes of subtropical forest by canopy addition of nitrogen.

Globally, nitrogen deposition increment has caused forest structural changes due to imbalanced plant nitrogen metabolism and subsequent carbon assimilation. Here, a 2 consecutive-year experiment was conducted to reveal the effects of canopy addition of nitrogen (CAN) on nitrogen absorption, assimilation, and allocation in leaves of three subtropical forest woody species (Castanea henryi, Ardisia quinquegona, and Blastus cochinchinensis). We hypothesized that CAN altered leaf nitrogen absorption, assimilation and partitioning of different plants in different ways in subtropical forest. It shows that CAN increased maximum photosynthetic rate (Amax), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), and metabolic protein content of the two understory species A. quinquegona and B. cochinchinensis. By contrary, for the overstory species, C. henryi, Amax, PNUE, and metabolic protein content were significantly reduced in response to CAN. We found that changes in leaf nitrogen metabolism were mainly due to the differences in enzyme (e.g. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase and glutamine synthetase) activities under CAN treatment. Our results indicated that C. henryi may be more susceptible to CAN treatment, and both A. quinquegona and B. cochinchinensis could better adapt to CAN treatment but in different ways. Our findings may partially explain the ongoing degradation of subtropical forest into a community dominated by small trees and shrubs in recent decades. It is possible that persistent high levels of atmospheric nitrogen deposition will lead to the steady replacement of dominant woody species in this subtropical forest.

Consistent effects of canopy vs. understory nitrogen addition on the soil exchangeable cations and microbial community in two contrasting forests.

Anthropogenic N deposition has been well documented to cause substantial impacts on the chemical and biological properties of forest soils. In most studies, however, atmospheric N deposition has been simulated by directly adding N to the forest floor. Such studies thus ignored the potentially significant effect of some key processes occurring in forest canopy (i.e., nitrogen retention) and may therefore have incorrectly assessed the effects of N deposition on soils. Here, we conducted an experiment that included both understory addition of N (UAN) and canopy addition of N (CAN) in two contrasting forests (temperate deciduous forest vs. subtropical evergreen forest). The goal was to determine whether the effects on soil exchangeable cations and microbial biomass differed between CAN and UAN. We found that N addition reduced pH, BS (base saturation) and exchangeable Ca and increased exchangeable Al significantly only at the temperate JGS site, and reduced the biomass of most soil microbial groups only at the subtropical SMT site. Except for soil exchangeable Mn, however, effects on soil chemical properties and soil microbial community did not significantly differ between CAN and UAN. Although biotic and abiotic soil characteristics differ significantly and the responses of both soil exchangeable cations and microbial biomass were different between the two study sites, we found no significant interactive effects between study site and N treatment approach on almost all soil properties involved in this study. In addition, N addition rate (25 vs. 50 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) did not show different effects on soil properties under both N addition approaches. These findings did not support previous prediction which expected that, by bypassing canopy effects (i.e., canopy retention and foliage fertilization), understory addition of N would overestimate the effects of N deposition on forest soil properties, at least for short time scale.

[Water recharge through nighttime stem sap flow of Schima superba in Guangzhou region of Guangdong Province, South China: affecting factors and contribution to transpiration].

To understand the nighttime water recharge of tree through its sap flow is beneficial to the precise estimation of total transpiration and canopy stomatal conductance, and to the further understanding of the time lag between canopy transpiration and stem sap flow. By using Granier's thermal dissipation probe, this paper measured the stem sap flow of Schima superba, and synchronously measured the main environmental factors including air temperature, relative humidity, photosynthetically active radiation, and soil moisture content, and also analyzed the water recharge through nighttime stem flow of S. superba at daily and seasonal scales. The sap flow density of S. superba was lower at night than at daytime, and the nighttime sap flow density had a larger variation in dry season than in wet season. The water recharge at night generally started from sunset when radiation was approaching zero, and lasted up to midnight (18:00-22:00). No significant difference was observed in the nighttime water recharge among seasons, and no significant correlations were found between the nighttime water recharge and environmental factors, but the nighttime water recharge was well regressed with the diameter at breast height, tree height, tree canopy size, stem biomass, and canopy biomass, suggesting that tree form features and biomass could better explain the nighttime water recharge. The contribution of nighttime water recharge to the total transpiration varied significantly with seasons, and was obviously higher in dry season than in wet season.

[Effects of tree diameter at breast height and soil moisture on transpiration of Schima superba based on sap flow pattern and normalization].

The eigenvalues of continuous sap flow pattern, i. e. , skewness and kurtosis, were used to investigate the water usage of Schima superba with different diameter at breast height (DBH), and the method of normalization was firstly applied to eliminate the effects of strong affecting factor (photosynthetic active radiation, PAR) to explore the possible relationship between weak affecting factor (soil moisture) and sap flow. Generally, the trees with larger DBH had smaller skewness of sap flux density and later-appeared but larger peak values, suggesting that much more water was transpired, and the larger trees showed smaller skewness and later-appeared larger peak values in wet season than in dry season, suggesting that more water was transpired in wet season. On the other hand, smaller trees had lesser differences in the skewness between dry and wet seasons, suggesting that there was no significant difference in the transpiration between the two seasons. The relationship between individual tree's transpiration and soil moisture was significant and positive after the two parameters being normalized with PAR peak values. When the soil moisture content was higher, the transpiration of the trees with larger DBH was steadily increasing with soil moisture, while that of the trees with moderate or smaller DBH had opposite trend, presumably due to their transpiration and water absorption were approached to the limit.

[Caloric value and ash content of dominant plants in plantation communities in Heshan of Guangdong, China].

Different parts of twenty dominant plant species in five plantation communities on the subtropical hilly lands in Heshan of Gunagdong as well as the litters from three of the five plantation communities were sampled, and their gross caloric value (GCV) and ash content were measured by using a PARR-1281 oxygen bomb calorimeter and a muffle furnace. Based on the measurements, the ash-free caloric value (AFCV) of the samples was calculated, and the characteristics of caloric value and ash content of the samples, according to plant part, individual, and plant growth form, were analyzed. The results showed that the GCV and AFCV of leaf, branch, stem wood, stem bark, and root were in the range of 10.7-22.17 kJ x g(-1) and 13.89-23.04 kJ x g(-1), respectively. The GCV and AFCV of leaf were significantly higher than those of other parts (P < 0.05), and the individual plant' s weighted mean values of GCV and AFCV were in the range of 14.24-19.43 and 16.63-20.99 kJ x g(-1), respectively. The mean AFCV of plantation communities was in the order of tree layer (19.55 kJ x g(-1)) > shrub layer (19.46 kJ x g(-1) > herb layer (18.77 kJ x g(-1)), with indigenous coniferous tree (19.86 kJ x g(-1)) > indigenous broad-leaved tree (19.55 kJ x g(-1)) > exotic eucalyptus (19.18 kJ x g(-1)), while the mean ash content was just the opposite. In Acacia mangium, coniferous, and Schima plantation communities, the GCV and AFCV of litters were higher than those of various plant parts (P < 0.01). The litter-falls in A. mangium and coniferous plantations had higher mean GCV and AFCV than the litters and fresh leaves of tree layer, while the fresh leaves of tree layer in Schima plantation showed higher mean GCV and AFCV.

[Effects of tree height on whole-tree water use of Acacia mangium].

By using Granier's thermal dissipation probe, the sap flow of 14 sample trees in a 22-year old Acacia mangium forest in hilly land of South China was continuously measured in 2004. Environmental factors including the photosynthetically active radiation, air temperature, and air humidity above canopy and the water content in 0-30 cm soil layer were monitored simultaneously. Combining with the tree morphological features and sap flux density, the whole-tree transpiration, canopy stomatal conductance, and ratio of leaf area to sapwood area were calculated by simplified Whitehead and Jarvis equation, and the effects of tree height on these three parameters were analyzed. The results indicated that under sufficient soil water supply, the whole-tree transpiration increased in a quadratic polynomial way with tree height (P < 0.01), and the diurnal variation of canopy stomatal conductance was of one-peak pattern. Within the measured range of photosynthetically active radiation, taller A. mangium trees had higher reference canopy stomatal conductance and higher sensitivity of canopy stomatal conductance to vapor pressure deficit, compared with the shorter ones. The ratio of leaf area to sapwood area was (1.837 +/- 0.048) m2 x cm(-2), and increased in power function with tree height. A. mangium had no obvious hydraulic limitation and

[Net CO2 exchange and carbon isotope flux in Acacia mangium plantation].

By using stable carbon isotope technique, the leaf-level 13C discrimination was integrated to canopy-scale photosynthetic discrimination (Deltacanopy) through weighted the net CO2 assimilation (Anet) of sunlit and shaded leaves and the stand leaf area index (L) in an A. mangium plantation, and the carbon isotope fluxes from photosynthesis and respiration as well as their net exchange flux were obtained. There was an obvious diurnal variation in Deltacanopy, being lower at dawn and at noon time (18.47 per thousand and 19.87 per thousand, respectively) and the highest (21.21 per thousand) at dusk. From the end of November to next May, the Deltacanopy had an increasing trend, with an annual average of (20.37 +/- 0.29) per thousand. The carbon isotope ratios of CO2 from autotrophic respiration (excluding daytime foliar respiration) and heterotrophic respiration were respectively (- 28.70 +/- 0.75) per thousand and (- 26.75 +/- 1.3) per thousand in average. The delta13 C of nighttime ecosystem-respired CO2 in May was the lowest (-30.14 per thousand), while that in November was the highest (-28.01 per thousand). The carbon isotope flux of CO2 between A. mangium forest and atmosphere showed a midday peak of 178.5 and 217 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) x per thousand in May and July, with the daily average of 638.4 and 873.2 micromol x m(-2) x s(-1) x per thousand, respectively. The carbon isotope flux of CO2 absorbed by canopy leaves was 1.6-2.5 times higher than that of CO2 emitted from respiration, suggesting that a large sum of CO2 was absorbed by A. mangium, which decreased the atmospheric CO2 concentration and improved the environment.

High-nitrogen and low-irradiance can restrict energy utilization in photosynthesis of successional tree species in low subtropical forest.

Responses of photosynthesis and the partition of energy utilization to high-nitrogen importation and high-light intensity in leaves of three dominant tree species of subtropical forest, including sun plant or early-successional species Schima superba, mesophyte or intermediate-successional species Canstanopsis hystrix, and shading-tolerant plant or late-successional species Cryptocarya concinna were studied by using the CO(2) exchange system and chlorophyll fluorescence method. Our results showed that, regardless of plant species, net photosynthetic rate (P (n)) was higher in high-nitrogen supply and high irradiance (HNHL) plants than in low-nitrogen supply and high irradiance (LNHL) plants, implying that low-nitrogen importation would limit P (n) of plants grown under high irradiance. However, high-nitrogen supply and low irradiance (HNLL) plants had a lower P (n). Insignificant change of quantum yield (F (v)'/F (m)') in opened PS II was found in leaves of HNHL, LNHL or HNLL plants of S. superba and C. hystrix, while a higher F (v)'/F (m)' occurred in HNHL plants of C. concinna in comparison with LNHL or HNLL plants. The HNHL plants of C. concinna also had a higher photochemical quantum yield (DeltaF/F (m)') than LNHL or HNLL plants, however no similar responses were found in plants of S. superba and C. hystrix (P <0.05). In the irradiance range of 0-2000 mumol photon.m(-2) .s(-1), the fraction of energy consumed by photochemistry (varphi (PSII)) was 18.2% in LNHL plants of S. superba which was higher than that in HNHL plants (P>0.05) and it was significantly higher than in HNLL plants (P<0.05). C. hystrix also had a similar response in varphi (PSII) to nitrogen supply and irradiance. Regardless of species HNLL plants had a significant varphi (PSII) and higher heat dissipation in light, and this effect was more severe in C. concinna than in S. superba or C. hystrix. The results may mean that high-nitrogen importation by nitrogen deposit and low irradiance caused by changing climate or air pollution would more severely restrict photosynthetic processes in the late-successional species C. concinna than in the early-successional species S. superba and intermediate-successional species C. hystrix. The continuous high-nitrogen precipitation in the future and the over cast mist or pollution smoke could induce late-successional species to degrade, however, early-successional species would be more adapted to competition for more resources to keep their dominance in ecosystems. In this sense, the zonal vegetation may accelerate degradation caused by high nitrogen precipitation and low irradiance, while the early-successional and mesophytic vegetations can remain longer. Thus, nitrogen precipitation may play an important role in plant community succession.

[Time lag effect between stem sap flow and photosynthetically active radiation, vapor pressure deficit of Acacia mangium].

Based on the measurement of the stem sap flow of Acacia mangium with Granier' s thermal dissipation probe, and the cross-correlation and time serial analysis of the sap flow and corresponding photosynthetically active radiation and vapor pressure deficit, this paper studied the time lag effect between the stem sap flow of A. mangium and the driving factors of the tree canopy transpiration. The results indicated that the main driving factors of the transpiration were photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Sap flux density (Js) was more dependent on PAR than on VPD, and the dependence was more significant in dry season than in wet season. Sap flow lagged behind PAR but advanced than VPD in both dry and wet seasons. The time lag did not show any significant variation across different size tree individuals, but showed significant variation in different seasons. Time lag effect was not correlated with tree height, diameter at the breast, and canopy size. The time lag between Js and VPD was significantly related to nighttime water recharge in dry season, but reversed in wet season.

[Effects and mechanisms of plant roots on slope reinforcement and soil erosion resistance: a research review].

Plant roots play an important role in resisting the shallow landslip and topsoil erosion of slopes by raising soil shear strength. Among the models in interpreting the mechanisms of slope reinforcement by plant roots, Wu-Waldron model is a widely accepted one. In this model, the reinforced soil strength by plant roots is positively proportional to average root tensile strength and root area ratio, the two most important factors in evaluating slope reinforcement effect of plant roots. It was found that soil erosion resistance increased with the number of plant roots, though no consistent quantitative functional relationship was observed between them. The increase of soil erosion resistance by plant roots was mainly through the actions of fiber roots less than 1 mm in diameter, while fiber roots enhanced the soil stability to resist water dispersion via increasing the number and diameter of soil water-stable aggregates. Fine roots could also improve soil permeability effectively to decrease runoff and weaken soil erosion.

[Responses of canopy stomatal conductance of Acacia mangium forest to environmental driving factors].

Employing Graniers probes, this paper measured the sap flow of 14 sample trees in an Acacia mangium forest on the Heshan hilly lands of Guangdong Province, and recorded the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), air relative humidity (RH) , and air temperature (T) above the forest canopy. The whole-tree transpiration (E), stand transpiration (Et), and mean canopy stomatal conductance (gc) were calculated, and the relationships between tree morphological characters and whole-tree water use as well as the responses of gc to PAR and vapor pressure deficit (D) were analyzed. The results showed that the whole-tree transpiration had logarithmical positive correlations with tree diameter at breast height (DBH) (P < 0.0001) , sapwood area (P < 0.0001) and canopy size (P = 0.0007), and an exponential positive correlation with tree height (P = 0. 014). The maximum gc (gc max) changed with PAR hyperbolically (P < 0.0001), and with D logarithmically (P < 0.0001). The sap flow measurement system used in this study was reliable and accurate in estimating the transpiration of whole-tree and stand and the canopy stomatal conductance, being an effective tool in studying the relationships between forest water use and environmental factors.

[Effects of nitrate application on alleviating photosynthesis restriction of Cinnamomum burmannii leaves under elevated CO2 concentration and enhanced temperature].

In this study, potted C. burmannii saplings were cultured in a top-closed chamber with elevated CO2 (+ CO2, 731 micromol x mol(-1)) and ambient CO2(CO2, 365 micromol x mol(-1)), and at diurnal temperature (day/night) 25/23 degrees C and 32/25 degrees C, respectively. The gas exchange, calculated photosynthesis parameter, Rubisco content, and activated state of Rubisco were examined. The results showed that under + CO2 and at 25/23 degrees C, the mean photosynthetic rate (Pnsat) of sapling leaves was 5.1% higher than that under + CO2 and at 32/25 degrees C. Temperature enhancement declined Pnsat, while nitrate addition increased it. Under + CO2, saplings had lower V(cmax) and J(max) at 32/25 degrees C than at 25/23 degrees C. Temperature enhancement under + CO2 also declined V(cmax) and J(max). Under + CO2, lower photorespiration rate (Rp) occurred in leaves, but temperature enhancement could increase Rp. Under + CO2, Rubisco content (NR) and its active site per unit leaf area (M) decreased as diurnal temperature changed from 25/23 degrees C to 32/25 degrees C. Meanwhile, nitrate addition could increase NR and M. It may be suggested that nitrate addition could alleviate the restriction of photosynthesis under elevated CO2 concentration and enhanced temperature.

[Ecological restoration technologies for mined lands: a review].

Mining activities usually cause catastrophic and extensive environmental changes, and eventually cause major damages to the whole ecosystem. The natural restoration for mine lands and tailings is a very slow process, and even can hardly reach their original states. Therefore, how to develop rapid and efficient approaches to accelerate restoration of mined lands has been highlighted by restorationists and environmental engineers during the past two decades. Almost all studies in this field indicate that the major problems come from soils: such as high metal concentrations, extremely strong acidity resulting from oxidation of pyrite, and poor fertility. Replacement of topsoil is therefore regarded as the most efficient method to alleviate adverse conditions of substrates; if this method is not available, other alternatives with lime, fertilizers, organic manures, garbage, mining wastes, and others will be applicable. In the aspect of using plants, species with strong resistance and rapid growth, like grasses and herbaceous legume, are always the first choice. If utilizing plants for the purpose of phytoremediation, species that are capable of accumulating exceptionally high concentrations of phytotoxic metals and of course, have a huge biomass, are preferably considered. No matter what type of ecosystem a mined land is restored or reclaimed to, an evaluation on whether it is a successful restoration or reclamation should be given. However, more practical, simple, and universal evaluation methods as well as more cost-effective, and operation-easy restoration techniques are still waiting to be developed. A set of artificial restoration methods that can be widely applied was summarized, and a discussion on the advantage and disadvantage of several evaluation systems was conducted in this review.

[Ecological and biological characteristics of Wikstroemia indica].

Wikstroemia indica was the common shrub with medicine use in subtropical and tropical zones. The studies on the biological and physiological characteristics, population dynamics, biomass, nutrient composition of Wikstroemia indica showed that Wikstroemia indica was widely dispersed over hilly lands and opened forests. It was heliophytes and grew well on improverished soil. Its average photosynthetic rate and conductance were 7.33 mumolCO2.m-2.s-1 and 0.042 molH2O.m-2.s-1, respectively. The weighted nutrient concentration of Wikstroemia indica were N 0.667%, P 0.081%, K 0.540%, Ca 0.776%, and Mg 0.259%, respectively, and the medicine ingredient was Wikstroemine C16H12O5. Due to morphological difference, the competitive power on energy and nutrient of Wikstroemia indica was less than that of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa. Wikstroemia indica population decreased, while Rhodomyrtus tomentosa increased on shrubby grass land during early successional stage. Wikstroemia indica could be planted to increase its biomass to exploit medicine use.