Effects of dwarf bamboo density on early seedling regeneration of Carpinus viminea Wall.

To investigate bamboo cluster control by removal, we established four density gradients of the dwarf bamboo (density 1: (3.83±0.53) ramet/m²; density 2: (16±1.80) ramet/m²; density 3: (39±1.69) ramet/m²; density 4: (69±2.15) ramet/m²) to determine different microenvironment measures (soil temperature, soil humidity, soil conductivity, and litter thickness) under different densities and clarify the influence of bamboo density and microenvironment on seedling number, seedling survival, and growth of dominant species Carpinus viminea. Results showed significant differences in environmental factors under different bamboo densities. With the increase in bamboo density, litter thickness, soil temperature, and soil moisture were significantly increased. In contrast, the number of seedlings of C. viminea significantly decreased, with the distribution of seedlings in the four population gradients ranked as: density 1 (28.53±3.14) ind/m² > density 2 (17.36±1.45) ind/m² > density 3 (12.36±0.93) ind/m² > density 4 (8.92±0.93) ind/m², indicating a stronger inhibitory effect on seedling germination with the increase in density. Thus, the density of the dwarf bamboo affected the survival rate and growth of C. viminea seedlings. Our results showed that dense dwarf bamboo not only inhibited seedling distribution and seedling growth of C. viminea, but also had a negative impact on population regeneration and succession of forest communities.