The pH change in rhizosphere ofPinus koraiensis seedlings as affected by different nitrogen sources and its effect on phosphorus availability

Root mat method described by Kuchenbuch and Jungk was used to study the rhizosphere processes. The experiment was carried out on two years oldPinus koraiensis seedlings. Soil samples collected from the upper 20-cm soil layer in Changbai Mountain were treated with three different forms of nitrogen fertilizers: NO₃ ⁻−N, NH₄ ⁺−N and NH₄NO₃. The results showed that the soil pH and available P near the roots were all lower than in the bulk soil in control treatment. NH₄ ⁺−N application greatly decreased the soil pH near the roots compared to the control treatment and promoted the absorption of phosphorus, which led to a more remarkable depletion region of available P. On the contrary, the rhizosphere soil pH was higher than in the bulk soil in treatments with NO₃ ⁻−N and retarded the P absorption, which led to a nearly equal available P contents to the bulk soil. In treatment with NH₄NO₃, the rhizosphere soil pH was only a little lower than that in the control treatment and its effects on P absorption is mediate between the treatments with NH₄ ⁺−N and NO₃ ⁻−N. Foundation item: This paper was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30170167). Biography: Chen Yong-liang (1969-), male, Ph. Doctor, lecture of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Post-doctor in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P.R. China. E-mail: ylchin@sohu.com Responsible editor: Seng Funan     

Effects of soil moisture and soil depth on nitrogen mineralization process under Mongolian pine plantations in Zhanggutai sandy land, P. R. China

选择章古台地区三块典型樟子松(Pinussylvestrisvar.mongolica)人工固沙林为研究对象,采用实验室好氧培养法测定了不同土壤层次和在不同水分条件下的N矿化过程。结果表明:土壤0-60cm层N净矿化速率垂直变化范围为1.06–7.52mg·kg-1·month-1;土壤层次和含水量及其交互作用对土壤N净矿化速率的影响均达到差异显著(P<0.05);净矿化速率随着土壤层次的加深而明显下降,0-15cm层占总净矿化量的60.52%;半饱和与饱和含水量处理差异不显著,但均高于不加水处理。为此,在半干旱地区必须进一步加强开展调控生态系统N矿化、循环及其收支平衡影响因素的研究。图1表4参20。     

不同浓度氨源引起的红松苗木根际pH变化及其对Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn有效性和吸收的影响

Dark brown forest soil was collected from the upper 20 cm soil layer in Changbai Mountain Research Station of Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The soil was amended with two different forms of nitrogen fertilizers: NO₃ as Ca(NO₃)₂, NH₄ ⁺ as NH₄Cl at the concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg kg⁻¹respectively. The experiment was carried out with 2-yr-oldPinus koraiensis seedlings in pot. The pH change of rhizosphere soil and the contents of available Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in soil and leaves were analyzed. The result indicated that the addition of NH₄-N decreased the rhizosphere pH value, while the addition of NO₃-N increased the rhizosphere pH value in contrast with the control treatment. The direction and extent of the pH change mainly depended on N source and its concentrations applied. The rhizosphere pH change had a remarkable influence on the availability of the micronutrients in the rhizosphere, and thereafter affected the nutrient uptake by the seedlings. The contents of available mineral nutrients had a negative correlation with the pH value in the rhizosphere soil. The contents of available mineral nutrients in leaves were positively correlated to the levels of the available nutrients in the rhizosphere soils. Foundation item: This paper was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30170167). Biography: CHEN Yong-liang (1969-), male, Ph. Doctor, lecture of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, Post-doctor in Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

封山育林对小兴安岭东部地区蒙古栎林主要乔木种群径级结构的影响

在黑龙江省小兴安岭东部地区(东经444-4726 N?北纬2633-13141? 海拔400-1000 m), 对不同封育时间、不同坡向的蒙古栎林中的主要乔木树种径级结构进行分析。在阳坡,针对封育5年 16年和24年蒙古栎种群, 分别选择6个重复样地。在阴坡,也同样分别选择6块样地。每块样地的面积为20 m×20 m。在每块样地中, 测量各树的胸高直径,树高和冠幅直径。结果表明:在封育5年样地内,蒙古栎、糠椴和黄榆种群的数量均随着径级的增加而单调下降,表明均为增长型种群;在封育16年以后,由于林内乔木层的盖度较大,糠椴和黄榆种群均呈不同程度的衰退,已经成为蒙古栎种群的伴生种群;封育24年样地中,蒙古栎种群明显成为优势树种。在阳坡随封育时间延长乔木层盖度增长较快,而阴坡乔木层盖度增长较慢;糠椴和黄榆种群随封育时间延长逐步衰退的现象在阳坡比阴坡表现明显。图2表1参8。     

Prescribed burning of Pinus oocarpa in Honduras I. Effects on surface runoff and sediment loss

The effects of low-intensity prescribed burning on surface runoff and sediment loss were studied in a stand of oocarpa pine (Pinus oocarpa Schiede) in central Honduras. The effects of burning in two seasons were compared on small paired plots on 10°, 25° and 40° slopes. Over a period of almost 2 years, mean percent runoff was 1.73% on the control plots and 5.03% on the burned plots. Mean sediment loss during the same period was 80 kg ha^?1 on the control plots and 1732 kg ha^?1 on the burned plots. The relationship between slope and surface runoff and sediment loss was negative; the effect of slope being masked by variation of other site factors. Recovery from burning was rapid and is attributed to the rapid rate of recovery of the ground vegetation of grasses and forbs which are adapted to frequent burning. Surface runoff and sediment loss on control plots were very low and the increases caused by burning are considered an acceptable alternative to the exposure of the overstory and site to the high risk of wildfires in accumulated fuels. Greater runoff and sediment loss were recorded on the plots burned in February than on those burned in June. As the period November to mid-February offers the greatest number of days with weather conditions suitable for low-intensity prescribed burning, it is concluded that burning for hazard reduction should be conducted as early as possible in this period, in November and December, to permit greater recovery of the ground vegetation before the heavy rains of May and early June.     

长白山典型阔叶红松林土壤二氧化碳排放通量

随着大气CO2浓度的升高,主要由其引起的温室效应与对生物新陈代谢的影响变得越来越显著。森林生态系统在全球碳循环中扮演着重要的角色。为了评估和理解森林土壤CO2通量及其随空气和土壤温度的季节和昼夜变化规律,我们在长白山北坡典型阔叶红松林内利用静态箱技术进行了原位观测。实验在整个生长季(6月初至9月末)昼夜进行,利用气相色谱进行气体分析。结果表明: 长白山阔叶红松林土壤是大气二氧化碳源,其CO2通量具有明显的季节和昼夜变化规律。通量的变化范围是(0.30-2.42)μmol穖-2穝-1,平均值为0.98μmol穖-2穝-1。土壤CO2排放的季节规律表明,土壤CO2通量的变化与气温和土壤温度的变化有关。CO2平均通量的最大值出现在7月((1.27±23%)μmol穖-2穝-1),最小值出现在9月((0.5±28%)μmol穖-2穝-1)。土壤CO2的昼夜波动与土壤温度变化有关,而在时间上滞后于温度的变化。森林下垫面土壤CO2通量与土壤温度显著相关,与6cm深度土层温度相关系数最大。基于气温和土壤温度计算的Q10值范围为2.09-3.40。图2表3参37。     

Impact of wildfire intensity and logging on fungal and nitrogen-cycling bacterial communities in British Columbia forest soils

Wildfire and logging are common disturbances in the forests of northwestern North America, causing changes in soil chemistry and microbiology, including fungal and nitrogen-cycling bacterial communities. These organisms play key roles in nutrient cycling, and affect the regeneration of tree seedlings after disturbance. We studied the effects of wildfire and logging on fungal and nitrogen-cycling communities in the rhizosphere of 16 month-old Douglas-fir seedlings as they regenerated in burned and logged soils. Seeds were planted against root windows that were set up vertically in the soil, with a removable front panel used to access the seedling rhizosphere soil surface. Windows were established in control, lightly burned, and severely burned plots, as well as two types of logged plots (clearcut and screefed clearcut). Soil scrapings from the root window–soil interface were taken and the structure of fungal and nitrogen-cycling communities was resolved using length-heterogeneity PCR (LH-PCR) of fungal nuclear ribosomal RNA genes, and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of nifH and nosZ genes. We found striking differences in the community structure of fungal, denitrifying, and N-fixing communities in response to burning and logging. With the exception of clearcut and screefed clearcut, which were generally similar, each treatment had a unique impact on community structure for these genes. Burning and logging also impacted the relative richness and evenness of these communities. Fungal relative richness and evenness increased in response to logging and severe burning, while denitrifier relative richness and evenness increased in all disturbance treatments, and N-fixing bacterial relative richness and evenness decreased in response to burning. The greatest differences in microbial community structure, relative richness, and evenness were found in the comparisons of lightly burned and logged treatments. The results suggest that the presence of an intact forest floor influences soil microbial communities less than the presence of living trees.     

Nitrogen transfer between N2-fixing plant and non-N2-fixing plant

The transfer mechanisms, calculating methods and ecological significance of nitrogen transfer between legumes and non-legumes are briefly reviewed. There are three pathways of nitrogen transfer from legumes to neighboring non-legumes: (1) the nitrogen pass in soluble form from the donor legume root into the soil solution, move by diffusion or/and mass flow to the receiver root and be taken up by the latter; (2) nitrogen pass into the soil solution as before, be taken up and transported by mycorrhizal hyphae attached to the receiver roots; (3) if mycorrhizal hyphae form connections (bridges) between the two root systems, the nitrogen could pass into the fungus within the donor root and be transported into the receiver root without ever being in the soil solution. The mechanisms of nitrogen transfer between N₂-fixing plants and non-N₂-fixing plants are reviewed in terms of indirect and direct pathways. The indirect N-transfer process is related to the release of nitrogen from legumes (donor plants), the possible interaction of this nitrogen with soil, the decomposition and mineralization of legumes and turnover of nitrogen, the nitrogen absorbing and competing abilities of the legume and the non-legume (receiver plant). The direct nitrogen transfer process is generally considered to be related to the nitrogen gradient and physiological imbalance between legumes and non-legumes, and when the donor legume lies in stressful stage (i.e. removal of shoots or attacked by insects), the nitrogen transfer can be improved significantly. The methods of determining nitrogen transfer (indirect¹⁵N-isotope dilution method and direct¹⁵N determination method) are evaluated, and their advantages and shortcomings are shown in this review. Foundation Item: This paper was funded by National Science Foundation and Doctor Foundation of China. Biography: J{upang} San-na (1970-), male. Ph. doctor, engineer in Collage of Resource and Environment. Beijing Forestry University Responsible editor: Chai Ruihai     

The contribution of root respiration of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus koraiensis</Emphasis> seedlings to total soil respiration under elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentrations

The impacts of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (500 μmol·mol⁻¹ and 700 μmol·mol⁻¹) on total soil respiration and the contribution of root respiration ofPinus koraiensis seedlings were investigated from May to October in 2003 at the Research Station of Changbai Mountain Forest Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin Province, China. After four growing seasons in top-open chambers exposed to elevated CO₂, the total soil respiration and roots respiration ofPinus koraiensis seedlings were measured by a Li-6400-09 soil CO₂ flux chamber. Three PVC cylinders in each chamber were inserted about 30 cm into the soil instantaneously to terminate the supply of current photosynthates from the tree canopy to roots for separating the root respiration from total soil respiration. Soil respirations both inside and outside of the cylinders were measured on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively. The results indicated that: there was a marked diurnal change in air temperature and soil temperature at depth of 5 cm on June 16, the maximum of soil temperature at depth of 5 cm lagged behind that of air temperature, no differences in temperature between treatments were found (P>0.05). The total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed showed strong diurnal and seasonal patterns. There was marked difference in total soil respiration and soil respiration with roots severed between treatments (P<0.01); Mean total soil respiration and contribution of root under different treatments were 3.26, 4.78 and 1.47 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, 11.5%, 43.1% and 27.9% on June 16, August 20 and October 8, respectively. Foundation item: This study was supported by the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX1-SW-01) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30070158). Biography: LIU Ying (1976-), female, Ph. D. Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

黄土高原土石山区土壤密度的坡面变化——以六盘山香水河小流域为例

[目的]土壤密度是最基本的森林土壤水文物理性质参数,为了定量描述土壤密度随坡位的变化和影响因素,研究不同坡面土壤密度的空间异质性。[方法]在宁夏六盘山半湿润区香水河小流域,选择华北落叶松人工林和天然灌丛2个典型坡面,按坡位从上到下设置连续样地。2014年进行了森林土壤调查,在样地内掘土壤剖面,采用环刀法,分层测定土壤密度。[结果]在1 m深土层内,土壤密度(Y,g.cm-3)随土层(X,cm)加深呈线性增大,拟合关系式:华北落叶松坡面为Y1=0.755 5+0.007 7X(R2=0.99),天然灌丛坡面为Y2=0.919 5+0.004 7X(R2=0.98),其原因包括植被根系活动、土壤生物活动、砾石含量等的土层差异;在2个坡面上,0 100 cm土层平均土壤密度均有明显坡位差异,且2个坡面的沿坡整体变化趋势不相同,华北落叶松坡面从坡顶到坡脚是先逐渐增大,后趋于稳定;天然灌丛坡面从坡顶到坡脚是"增大-减小-增大"的趋势,不同土层土壤密度的坡面变化也各不相同。在华北落叶松林坡面引起土壤密度坡位差异的主要原因是海拔,而在天然灌丛坡面是植物生长状况;2个坡面的土壤密度平均值均出现在相对坡长的0.4 0.5处。坡面上各样地的平均土壤密度和坡面平均值的差值(Z,g.cm-3)随相对水平坡长(样地离开坡顶水平距离和整个坡面水平坡长的比)(X,m)变化的回归关系式分别为:华北落叶松坡面Z1=-0.139X2+0.25X-0.080 1(R2=0.93),天然灌丛坡面Z2=0.494 4X3-0.767 2X2+0.340 3X-0.040 5(R2=0.95)。[结论]华北落叶松林坡面和天然灌丛坡面的土壤密度都存在明显的坡位变化,但变化格局和主要影响因素不同。基于土壤密度坡面变化的拟合关系,可实现从特定坡位测定值推算坡面平均值的尺度转换。     

Nitrification and denitrification as sources of gaseous nitrogen emission from different forest soils in Changbai Mountain

The contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N₂O and N₂ emissions from four forest soils on northern slop of Changbai Mountain were measured with acetylene inhibition methods. In incubation experiments, 0.06% and 3% C₂H₂ were used to inhibit nitrification and denitrification in these soils, respectively. Both nitrification and denitification existed in these soils except tundra soil, where only denitrification was found. The annually averaged rates of nitrification and denitrification in mountain dark brown forest soil were much higher than that in other three soils. In mountain brown coniferous soil, contributions of different processes to gaseous nitrogen emissions were Denitrification N₂O>nitrification N₂O>Denitrification N₂. The same sequence exists in mountain soddy soil as that in the mountain brown coniferous soil. The sequence in mountain tundra soil was Denitrification N₂O>Denitrification N₂. Foundation item: This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.49701016) and the “Hundred Scientists” Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Biography: XU Hui (1967-), male, Ph. Doctor, associate research fellow in Laboratory of Ecological Process of Trace Substance in Terrestrial Ecosystem, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of sciences, Shenyang 110015, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Seedling growth and mycorrhizal formation in clearcut and adjacent,undisturbed soils in montana: A green-house bioassay

In a series of greenhouse bioassays, tree seedling growth and root-tip development were compared among soils from two areas that had been clearcut and site prepared 16 years earlier and adjacent, undisturbed forest. Seedlings grown in soil from logged areas were shorter and had fewer root tips than those grown in undisturbed forest soil; however, effects on seedling weights were not consistent among species or experimental series. Fertilizing with nitrogen eliminated size differences due to soil source. In Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco], the only species tested in sterilized soils, sterilization of logged soils resulted in increased seedling size and root-tip formation, whereas sterilization of unlogged soils had either no or a negative effect.     

Soil animals and nitrogen mineralization under sand-fixation planta- tions in Zhanggutai region, China

The effects of soil animals on soil nitrogen （N） mineralization and its availability were studied by investigating soil animal groups and their amounts of macro-faunas sorted by hand, and middle and microfaunas distinguished with Tullgren and Baermann methods under three Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. plantations in Zhanggutai sandy land, China. In addition, soil N mineralization rate was also measured with PVC closed-top tube in situ incubation method. The soil animals collected during growing season belonged to 13 orders, 5 groups, 4 phyla, whose average density was 86 249.17 individuals-m^-2. There were significant differences in soil animal species, densities, diversities and evenness among three plantations. Permanent grazing resulted in decrease of soil animal species and diversity. The average ammonification, nitrification and mineralization rates were 0.48 g：m^-2·a^-1, 3.68 g·m^-2·a^-1 and 4.16 g·m^-2·a^-1, respectively. The ammonification rate in near-mature forest was higher than that in middle-age forests, while the order of nitrification and net mineralization rates was： middle-age forest without grazing 〈 middle-age forest with grazing 〈 near-mature forest with grazing （P〈0.05）. Soil N mineralization rate increased with soil animal amounts, but no significant relationship with diversity. The contribution of soil animals to N mineralization was different for different ecosystems due to influences of complex factors including grazing, soil characteristics, the quality and amount of litter on N mineralization.     

Role of weeds in the management of nitrogen in a young Pinus radiata plantation

Pinus radiata trees were grown on a podzolized sandy soil at a second rotation site under the following treatments: total weed control, total weed control plus ammonium nitrate, strip weed control and no weed control. During the first two summers after planting the differences in needle water potential between trees under no, strip or total weed control were very small. Despite similar rates of net N-mineralization in strip and total weed control treatments, which averaged 64 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 in the 0–15 cm soil depth, weeds in the strip weed control treatment reduced soil mineral-N concentrations by 50–80%, leaching of N by the end of the first growing season by 45%, foliar-N concentrations by 4–14% and stem biomass at 20 months after planting by 46%. Although N-uptake by above-ground vegetation (trees plus weeds) was 49% higher in the strip weed control treatment, the amount of N apportioned to trees during the first 20 months after planting was reduced from 15.5 to 9.0 kg ha^–1. These effects of weeds were even more pronounced in the no weed control treatment. Since weeds had little effect on the needle water potential of trees and the annual rates of N-mineralization, but adversely affected N-uptake by trees, results indicate that weeds directly competed with trees for N, and thereby aggravated N-deficiency in trees. Application of ammonium nitrate after complete weed control increased foliar-N concentrations, and N-uptake and growth of trees, but also induced severe stem deformation.     

Nutrient element contents of cutting seedlings of hybrid species （ Liriodendron chinense x tulipifera）

The cutting seedlings ofLiriodendron chinense xtulipifera were treated with the different concentrations of auxin (treatment₁: IBA of 50 g·kg⁻¹+NAA of 300 g·kg⁻¹; treatment₂; IBA of 100 g·kg⁻¹+NAA of 300 g·kg⁻¹). The biomass nutrient element contents for different organs (root, stem, leaf) of cutting seedling ofLiriodendron chinense xtulipifera were measured by the dry method, Kjeldahl method and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy method. The result showed that the biomass of root, stem, and leaf of the cutting seedling treated with auxin was all remarkably increased. The contents of element C in root, stem and leaf had no significant difference between the control and auxin treatments, while the contents of N, P, K and Ca in stem were much lower than that in leaf and root. Variance analysis showed that for the same organ with different concentration treatment of auxin, the four nutrient elements (N, P, K, and Ca) had no significant difference in contents, while there existed significant or very significant difference in contents of the four nutrient elements in different organs with the same concentration auxin treatment. The N, P, K and Ca contents were very low in cutting seedlings; as a result, additional fertilizer should be applied to the seedlings when they were planted in the field. Foundation item: This paper was supported by Jiangsu Province Science Foundation (BE96350). Biography: ZHANG Xiao-ping, (1972-), female, Ph. Doctor in Nanjing Forestry University. Nanjing 210037, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong     

亚热带地区杉木人工林和阔叶林土壤活性有机质研究(英文)

土壤活性有机质对土壤养分如氮、磷、硫的生物化学循环具有作用,其含量和质量影响土壤的初级生产力。本试验在中国科学院会同森林生态实验站通过对第一代、第二代杉木纯林和地带性阔叶林土壤活性有机质组分的对比研究,发现杉木纯林土壤活性有机质的含量低于地带性阔叶林。第一代杉木纯林易氧化有机碳、微生物生物量碳、水溶性有机碳和水溶性碳水化合物的含量分别比第二代杉木纯林高35.9%、13.7%、87.8%和50.9%,比地带性阔叶林的低15.8%、47.3%、38.1%和30.2%。在调查的三种林地内,土壤微生物生物量碳和水溶性有机碳含量下降幅度较大,其次为水溶性碳水化合物,而易氧化有机碳的变化最小。同时,杉木纯林土壤养分等理化性质也比地带性阔叶林低。这表明在杉木纯林取代地带性阔叶林以及杉木纯林连栽后林地的土壤肥力降低。图3 表2参26。     

森林生态效益经济补偿综合评估(英文)

长期以来人们忽视了森林产品的非市场价值,从经济角度上来看, 这将导致保护森林资源的难度加大。本文在以前研究的基础之上,综合了恩格尔系数和逻辑斯谛曲线构造了补偿系数,计算了长白山地区森林生态效益的经济补偿值。结果表明,1999 年应支付的总补偿值为637.93 元/公顷,其中70%将直接支付给当地居民和其它相关利益者。这一数值远远高于现有的补偿值。从当前的形势看,中央政府不可能承担所有的森林保护费用和支付所有的保护森林的开支。本文提出可以利用当地政府的财政投资以及将补偿费用纳入到现行财政体系中解决方法。图1 表2参17。     

外源糖溶液和高浓度CO2处理对白桦叶片糖和蛋白质含量的影响

3年生白桦同时接受3种外源糖溶液(蔗糖、果糖、葡萄糖)和3种高浓度CO2(700、1400、2100μL·μL-1CO2)处理.处理1个月后,测定了叶片的总糖、蔗糖、果糖和蛋白质含量.结果表明:在700μL·L-1和1400μL·L-1 CO2下,外源糖溶液增加了叶片的可溶性糖和蛋白质含量,其中外源蔗糖的效果最好:外源糖溶液与2100μL·L-1CO2结合,会抑制叶片积累总糖和蛋白质:在700μL·L-1和1400μL·L-1CO2下,喷施葡萄糖、果糖的叶片在蛋白质含量上没有明显差别:同700、1400μL·L-1CO2相比,除喷施果糖植株外,2100μL·L-1 CO2明显增加了叶片的总糖、蔗糖、果糖和蛋白质含量:在喷施同种外源糖溶液的情况下,叶片的糖含量与CO2浓度呈正相关性.图6参7.     

林火与水土流失

本文综述了林地用火与水土流失关系, 阐明在北方及南方平原林地"规定用火"或"迹地用火"后, 土壤渗透性能得到改善, 水土流失较为轻微; 而在南方山区, 强度火烧后水土流失较为严重, 陡坡地段可蚀性较强的土壤水土流失尤为严重。根据火后土壤生境特点及用火现状, 指出林业用火与耕作制度有机组合, 形成特定的"农林业系统", 将为南方林业生产带来重大改革。     

Effect of planting density on plant growth and camptothecin content of Camptotheca acuminata seedlings

C. acuminata seedlings cultivated in greenhouse were transplanted into the fields with 5 designed planting densities (11, 16, 25, 44 and 100 plants·m⁻²) in May of 2004 and were harvested in the middle of September of 2004. The seedling growth indexes including plant height and crown width, biomass allocation, camptothecin (CPT) content and CPT yield of different organs (young leaf, old leaf, stem, and root) were studied. For the 5 selected planting densities, the plant biomass, height, crown width, and total leaf area ofC. acuminata seedlings all showed highest values at the planting density of 25 plants·m⁻². CPT content in young leaves was higher than that in other organs of seedlings and presented an obvious change with the variation of planting densities and with the highest value at density of 100 plants·m⁻², while for other organs no significant variation in CPT content was found with change of planting density. The accumulation of CPT was enhanced significantly at the planting density of 25 plants·m⁻². It is concluded that for the purpose to get raw materials with more CPT fromC. acuminata, the optimal planting density ofC. acuminata seedlings should be designed as 25 plants·m⁻². Foundation item: This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 3970086) and Heilongjiang Province Foundation for Distinguished Youth Scholars (JC-02-11) Biography: Wei Huan-yong (1978-), male, Graduate in College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong