The Strategy for Optimizing the Stand Structure of Pinus tabuliformis Carr. Forests to Enhance the Ecological Function on the Loess Plateau, China

The enhancement of the ecological functions forests through stand structure optimization is a key issue for high-quality forestry and its sustainable development on Loess Plateau. In this study, fifty standard plots Pinus tabuliformis Carr. forest were established in Plateau western Shanxi, China. Eleven factors structure, three topographical factors, four functional indices function, including 20 sub-functional indices, investigated monitored. study results indicated that conditions could significantly affect forest, which was primarily reflected water-holding soil improvement diversity function understory plants, but had little effect reducing runoff sediment yield slope. We found density uniform angle index be used to achieve optimal regulation enhance forest. Overall, strategy should (1) determine characteristics target by understanding surveys altitude stand, density, individual trees sample plot, average plot; (2) quantifying analyzing selecting certain as target, specifying degree index; (3) substitute elevation into corresponding model direction range index, specific measures. serve guide optimizing