Studies on the causes of forest decline in Nanshan, Chongqing

Nanshan is located in the south suburb of Chongqing, Sichuan province in China. It is about 10 km from the city of Chongqing. There are about 2000 ha of forest, mainly Masson pines (Pinus massoniana Lamb) which have exhibited decline since the beginning of the 1980s. Surveys of stands estimated that 85% of Masson pines are injured. Symptomology of Masson pines includes tip necrosis of needles, thin crown, reduced needle length, premature abscission, branch dieback, reduced radial growth. The foliage of broadleaf treesRobinia pseudoacacia L,Quercus dentata Thunb,Eucalyptus robusta Sm,Erythrina variegata var. orientalis (L) Merr,Faulownia fortunei (Seem) Hemsl,Rosa chinensis Jacq, also displayed necrotic lesions, both marginal and interveinous, most are brown or bleached. Foliage symptoms are similar to that produced in laboratory fumigation experiments with gaseous air pollutants SO2 or HF. The foliage injury intensity is related to the distance from the city. Forest in some localities furthest from the city exhibit approximately normal growth.Three monitoring sites had been selected in Nanshan forest area. At two sites pine trees were severely damaged. At another site they showed little damage. Atmospheric SO2 and fluoride concentrations had been examined. The average value of SO2 and fluoride concentrations at the two former sites were much higher than that at the latter site. The injury intensity was consistent with an increase in the concentrations of SO2 and fluoride. The sulphur and fluoride contents of tree leaves were also monitored. Sulphur contents of pine needles at the two former sites were generally more than that at the latter. The same tendency is observed in broadleaf trees. Higher levels of fluoride had been found in foliage of injured trees compared to unijured trees.Chongqing is also an acid rain region. The yearly average pH value of precipitation approaches to 4.0, and the frequency 100%. The pH values of acid rain at the three sites in Nanshan region are 4.17, 4.20, and 4.38 respectively. The difference is not significant. Also no significant difference in soil pH among the three sites is observed. It is suggested that acid rain and the acidification of soil are not implicated in the decline of Masson pines in Nanshan region.