Seasonal variation of physiological indexes on resprouting of Schima superba after the 2008 ice storm

Schima superba, one of the typical components of subtropical evergreen broad-leaf forest community, suffered from 2008 ice strom. With five 400 m² randomly-established plots in Zhejiang of China, the status of Schima superba was classified into three patterns: uprooted, decapitated and undamaged. Leaf samples were picked up and mixed from four directions and different positions of trees for physiological indexes determination in March, May, July, September and November, respectively. The average chlorophyll (a+b) content of uprooted, decapitated and undamaged trees in the latter half of the year increased by 10.8%, 21.3% and 8.1% than that of the first half of the year, respectively. Carotenoid content showed a gradual decrease tendency in the uprooted trees and an increase tendency in the decapitated and undamaged trees. LMA showed a gradual increase tendency and their peaks all occurred in September. Nitrogen and phosphorus content of undamaged trees were highest, followed by decapitated trees, and those in uprooted trees were the lowest.