Influence of forest floor environment on regeneration process of woody seedlings in broad-leaved and coniferous stand types planted 35 years ago in Obihiro no Mori, an Urban Park

Abstract

To understand the establishment process in an artificial urban forest the influence of forest floor environment on the regeneration process of woody seedlings was studied. In broad-leaved stands, Sasa nipponica dominated and in coniferous stands there were no specific dominating species. In both stands the light conditions of the forest floor were low. Even though broad-leaved stands have sufficient light for understory plants, the survival rate of seedlings is low. In coniferous stands the survival rate is high. Factors other than forest floor light conditions in broad-leaved stands dominated by S. nipponica must be considered.