Authors：Chun-Yao Cheng, Kuen-Yih Ho

Year：2012

    The Taiwan Forestry Bureau initiated an ecological afforestation project on the west coast of Taiwan in 2004 in order to renew and improve existing windbreak forests there. To understand the influences exerted by adverse environmental stresses on the afforested costal stands, the status of stand adaptability was monitored by examining interrelationships among tree adaptability morphologies and environmental indicators. This study spanned the period from 2009 to 2011 and monitored a total of 15 plots in which stands were surveyed. To monitor growth measurements and tree morphological characteristics in the plots and collect soil and meteorological data, 17 parameters were recorded. These data were then subjected to statistical multivariate analyses of variance. The main factors and their factorial analysis in turn allocated the parameters into 5 categories of tree adaptation level indicators, including crown vitality, climatic influences, soil properties, tree growth, and blooming and fructification performance. These indicators were capable of explaining 80.7% of the total variability. Further application of discriminant functions to individual explanatory indicators allowed adaptation levels of the stand trees to be ranked. Mos’s predictive grouping of stands produced a 90% fit; indicating a high degree of predictability based on these indicators. The overall results indicated that presently the afforested stands had good adaptation levels, and 9 of them had reached a good adaptation level. Only the stands at Wutiaogang and Taixi had moderately poor adaptation levels. Furthermore, regression analyses of stand adaptation levels and environmental factors indicated that the precipitation amount showed a linear correlation with tree performance. Apparently, at present, forest tending practices should focus on maintaining soil moisture to enhance the adaptation level of the stands. Through quantification of this indicator and in combination with on-site observations, a basic reference for a rapid adaptability sorting evaluation of coastal ecological afforestation stands can be established.