Abstract:

Crown structure affects tree growth through controling leaf area and its distribution. The distribution of crown has important implications for shelterbelt’s protective function. Some shelterbelts from 1-row and 1-row 8-year-old Paulownia fortunei (Seem.) Hemsl shelterbelts were selected in August 2009, aiming to understand crown characteristics of different shelterbelts. Crown shape, tree growth, accumulative biomass, leaf area and its variation in the crown were investigated. The results suggested that tree height, DBH, crown length, crown width, leaf accumulative biomass and leaf area hadn’t all significant difference at the P<0.05 level between 1-row and 2-row shelterbelt. However, stem accumulative biomass had significant difference. Crown shape was difference between a 1-row and 2-row shelterbelt, and it was asymmetry ovoid in 2-row shelterbelt. The variation tendencies of leaf area were the same for a 1-row and 2-row shelterbelt. Leaf area increased significantly with higher depth in the crown or from interior to the exterior of the crown. DBH, tree height and crown length were reliable predictors of leaf area at the tree-level. The research of the crown structure of Paulownia fortunei (Seem.) Hemsl based on 1-row and tow-row shelterbelts played a critical role in the insight the change of shelterbelt and managing shelterbelt crown.