Research Progress on Iron-Heart Cunninghamia lanceolate

Cunninghamia lanceolate (Lambert.) Hooker is one of the main fast-growing timber forest species in southern China which has a long history of cultivation and spreads across 28 provinces, cities, and regions. Recently, a variant of fir was discovered in the Xiaoxi National Nature Reserve in Hunan Province. The heartwood is hard as iron and its ratio is more than 80%, with the especial character of anti-corruption. It is a natural germplasm resource, called Iron-heart Cunninghamia lanceolate. Study on it is still in the stage of data accumulation. In this paper, we studied it from three points as follows: (1) Plus tree selection and construction of germplasm resources nursery. (2) Study on cone and seed quality. (3) Genetic structure analysis of natural population. The research of Iron-heart Cunninghamia lanceolate lays a theoretical foundation for the protection, development, and utilization of the black-heart wood germplasm resources of Iron-heart Cunninghamia lanceolate in the future.

Co-combustion performance analysis of a Fujian anthracite with Cunninghamia lanceolate and Mycorrhizal plants

The co-combustion characteristics of Fujian anthracite with two biomasses (i.e. Cunninghamia lanceolata) and Mycorrhizal plants in different proportions were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The result showed that first, the co-combustion processes of Fujian anthracite with the two biomasses ( Cunninghamia lanceolata and Mycorrhizal plants) proceeded in three stages, separation and combustion of volatiles, combustion of fixed carbon in the biomass, and combustion of fixed carbon in Fujian anthracite. Secondly with increasing proportion of biomass, the co-combustion of Fujian anthracite with Cunninghamia lanceolata and Mycorrhizal plants shifted to a low-temperature zone, with a lower ignition temperature, shortened burnout time, and growth of both combustibility index ( Ci) and comprehensive combustion index S. Finally, at different mixing proportions, the comprehensive combustion index S during co-combustion of FW with Mycorrhizal plants is always larger than that during co-combustion with Cunninghamia lanceolata; therefore, FW and Mycorrhizal plants exhibit superior comprehensive co-combustion performance to FW and Cunninghamia lanceolata. Analysis of various parameters pertaining to combustion performance shows that the ignition and combustion performance of Fujian anthracite was improved as long as the Fujian anthracite was mixed with around 20% biomass.

Estimated biomass carbon in thinned Cunninghamia lanceolate plantations at different stand-ages

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolate [Lamb.] Hook.) is a fast-growing species which is not only important as a timber-supplier, but also as an available sink for carbon (C) storage in biomass. Stand age and density are two critical factors that can determine tree C sequestration as interrelated drivers through natural self-thinning. C. lanceolate were planted using 1-year-old bare-root seedlings at the initial density of 1800 stems ha−1 in a 15-ha montane area of Hunan Province, China in 1987. The plantation was thinned twice 10 and 20 years after planting to leave trees of 437.5 ± 26.6, 675.0 ± 155.2 and 895.8 ± 60.1 stems ha−1 as low, medium, and high densities, respectively. Tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured every 2 years beginning from 23 years (2009) to 31 years (2018) after establishment, timber volume (TV) and biomass C were estimated accordingly. We did not find any interactive effect of age and density on any variables except for height. Both TV and biomass C increased with stand age or decreased in higher densities. The allometric height-DBH relationship can be fitted by an exponential rising-to-maximum model with higher maximum value over time. The decline of biomass C along density fit with the inverse first-order polynomial model which indicated that at least 1300–1500 stems ha−1 may be needed to maximize TV and biomass C for a longer term over 20 years. Therefore, to control the density to a reasonable level, over 1300 stems ha−1 in a rotation over 20 years old will be practical for tree biomass C in Chinese fir plantations.

Stain capacity of three fungi on two fast-growing wood

We investigated the stain of fast-growing wood (Cunninghamia lanceolate, CL; Paulownia, PT) inoculated with three fungi (Arthrinium phaeospermum, AP; Vibrio anguillarum, VA; Aspergillacea, AS) to explore the new wood dyeing ways and the better combination of wood and fungi for dyeing. Only AP could dye on CL and PT. Especially for CL, its percentage of internal spalting, percentage of external spalting and dyeing depth were the highest (48%, 15% and 5.06 mm, respectively). Surprisingly, the bigger weight loss occurs on PT. The results showed that the dyeing effect of AP dyeing CL was the best, and the wood color change was obviously (Orange to dark red). AP could produce more pigments than the other two fungi (VA; AS), CL was more suitable for fungus staining than PT, indicating that AP could offered a new potential market and a chance for areas to earning higher income for CL. This research paves the way for improving color change was obviously (Orange to dark red). AP could produce more pigments than the other two fungi (VA; AS), CL was more suitable for fungus staining than PT, indicating that AP could offer a new potential market and a chance for areas to earn higher income for CL.