Study on Water Conservation Capacity of the Mixed Plantations of Alnus cremastogyne and Cunninghamia lanceolata

Mixed plantations composed of coniferous and broadleaved tree species have been recommended to mitigate ecological degradation caused by successive rotation of the coniferous in south China forest areas. An array of indices including water holding capacity of the plantation soils, soil filtration property and water conservation characteristics and other hydrological properties of the pure stand of Cunninghamia lanceolata were measured and compared with those of the mixed plantations composed of C. lanceolata and Alnus cremastogyne. The results showed that the water conservation capacity of the all varied mixed plantations was higher than that of the pure C. lanceolata plantation. The plantation of A. cremastogyne mixed with C. lanceolata every other rows was the best pattern, whose above ground water holding capacity was 31.72 t/hm², and the maximum of water holding capacity of 0~40 cm soil stratum under the mixed plantation was 127.12 mm.