Abstract
Excessive mining activities in the Southern Taihang Mountain region have caused severe ecological degradation and a decline in carbon sequestration capacity. Vegetation restoration is fundamental to recovering the carbon sink function of degraded mining areas. To identify regionally dominant carbon-sequestering vegetation and enhance the carbon sink efficiency of ecological restoration, this study investigated all dominant plant species (six in total) within the restored area of the Chenzhuang Project in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the vegetation status in the restoration zone. Among these species, Platycladus orientalis, Elymus dahuricus and Parthenocissus tricuspidata were artificially planted for revegetation, while Ailanthus altissima, Vitex negundo and Gleditsia microphylla were pioneer species that naturally regenerated following mine restoration. Carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacities were evaluated by measuring net photosynthetic rate and leaf area index (LAI). The results showed that the diurnal variation of net photosynthetic rate exhibited either a single-peak pattern (only in P. orientalis) or a double-peak pattern (in the other species); The mean net photosynthetic rates ranged from 1.81 to 8.91 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, while LAI values ranged from 1.37 to 2.56; Net assimilation per unit leaf area varied between 68.83 and 355.31 mmol·m⁻²·d⁻¹. E. dahuricus exhibited the highest mean photosynthetic rate and net assimilation per unit leaf area, whereas P. orientalis showed relatively low values. Cluster analysis of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity classified the six species into three levels: E. dahuricus was categorized as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity; A. altissima and V. negundo were classified as Level II with moderate capacity; and P. orientalis, P. tricuspidata, and G. microphylla were grouped as Level III with relatively weak capacity. Overall, the artificially planted species E. dahuricus demonstrated superior carbon sequestration efficiency compared with naturally regenerated pioneer species, while the pioneer species exhibited higher carbon sequestration capacity than P. orientalis. This study represents the first comparative assessment of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacities between artificially planted vegetation and naturally regenerated pioneer species in a restored mining area of the Southern Taihang Mountains. The findings provide a synergistic vegetation configuration strategy of “artificial planting + natural conservation” for ecological restoration in mining areas of the Southern Taihang region. It is recommended that E. dahuricus be prioritized in restoration practices and combined with species such as A. altissima and V. negundo. to maximize the carbon sink benefits of ecological restoration.
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Claims 16
Claim · model-written summary
Platycladus orientalis showed a single-peak diurnal pattern of net photosynthetic rate, unlike the other species.
- Taxon
- P. orientalis
Platycladus orientalise2 - Outcome
- diurnal variation of net photosynthetic ratee2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“the diurnal variation of net photosynthetic rate exhibited either a single-peak pattern (only in P. orientalis) or a double-peak pattern (in the other species)”
Claim · model-written summary
The other five species showed a double-peak diurnal pattern of net photosynthetic rate.
Not reportedTaxon
Verbatim
e2“the diurnal variation of net photosynthetic rate exhibited either a single-peak pattern (only in P. orientalis) or a double-peak pattern (in the other species)”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean net photosynthetic rates across the six species ranged from 1.81 to 8.91 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹.
Verbatim
e1“investigated all dominant plant species (six in total) within the restored area of the Chenzhuang Project in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province”
e3“The mean net photosynthetic rates ranged from 1.81 to 8.91 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, while LAI values ranged from 1.37 to 2.56”
Claim · model-written summary
Leaf area index across the six species ranged from 1.37 to 2.56.
Verbatim
e1“investigated all dominant plant species (six in total) within the restored area of the Chenzhuang Project in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province”
e3“The mean net photosynthetic rates ranged from 1.81 to 8.91 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹, while LAI values ranged from 1.37 to 2.56”
Claim · model-written summary
Net assimilation per unit leaf area across the six species varied between 68.83 and 355.31 mmol·m⁻²·d⁻¹.
Verbatim
e1“investigated all dominant plant species (six in total) within the restored area of the Chenzhuang Project in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province”
e4“Net assimilation per unit leaf area varied between 68.83 and 355.31 mmol·m⁻²·d⁻¹”
Claim · model-written summary
Elymus dahuricus had the highest mean photosynthetic rate and net assimilation per unit leaf area.
- Taxon
- E. dahuricus
Campeiostachys dahuricae5 - Outcome
- mean photosynthetic rate and net assimilation per unit leaf areae5
- Direction
- higheste5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“E. dahuricus exhibited the highest mean photosynthetic rate and net assimilation per unit leaf area, whereas P. orientalis showed relatively low values”
Claim · model-written summary
Platycladus orientalis showed relatively low mean photosynthetic rate and net assimilation per unit leaf area.
- Taxon
- P. orientalisPlatycladus orientalise5
- Outcome
- mean photosynthetic rate and net assimilation per unit leaf areae5
- Direction
- relatively lowe5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“E. dahuricus exhibited the highest mean photosynthetic rate and net assimilation per unit leaf area, whereas P. orientalis showed relatively low values”
Claim · model-written summary
Elymus dahuricus was classed as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity.
- Taxon
- E. dahuricusCampeiostachys dahuricae0
- Outcome
- carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacitye0
- Direction
- stronge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“E. dahuricus was categorized as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity”
Claim · model-written summary
Ailanthus altissima was classed as Level II with moderate carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity.
- Taxon
- A. altissima
.jpg?width=60)
Ailanthus altissimuse0 - Outcome
- carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacitye0
- Direction
- moderatee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Cluster analysis of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity classified the six species into three levels: E. dahuricus was categorized as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity; A. altissima and V. negundo were classified as Level II with moderate capacity; and P. orientalis, P. tricuspidata, and G. microphylla were grouped as Level III with relatively weak capacity”
Claim · model-written summary
Vitex negundo was classed as Level II with moderate carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity.
- Taxon
- V. negundo
Vitex negundoe0 - Outcome
- carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacitye0
- Direction
- moderatee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cluster analysis of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity classified the six species into three levels: E. dahuricus was categorized as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity; A. altissima and V. negundo were classified as Level II with moderate capacity; and P. orientalis, P. tricuspidata, and G. microphylla were grouped as Level III with relatively weak capacity”
Claim · model-written summary
Platycladus orientalis was classed as Level III with relatively weak carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity.
- Taxon
- P. orientalisPlatycladus orientalise0
- Outcome
- carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacitye0
- Direction
- relatively weake0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cluster analysis of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity classified the six species into three levels: E. dahuricus was categorized as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity; A. altissima and V. negundo were classified as Level II with moderate capacity; and P. orientalis, P. tricuspidata, and G. microphylla were grouped as Level III with relatively weak capacity”
Claim · model-written summary
Parthenocissus tricuspidata was classed as Level III with relatively weak carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity.
- Taxon
- P. tricuspidata
.jpg?width=60)
Parthenocissus tricuspidatae0 - Outcome
- carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacitye0
- Direction
- relatively weake0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Cluster analysis of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity classified the six species into three levels: E. dahuricus was categorized as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity; A. altissima and V. negundo were classified as Level II with moderate capacity; and P. orientalis, P. tricuspidata, and G. microphylla were grouped as Level III with relatively weak capacity”
Claim · model-written summary
Gleditsia microphylla was classed as Level III with relatively weak carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity.
- Taxon
- G. microphyllaGleditsia microphyllae0
- Outcome
- carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacitye0
- Direction
- relatively weake0
Verbatim
e0“Cluster analysis of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity classified the six species into three levels: E. dahuricus was categorized as Level I with strong carbon sequestration and oxygen release capacity; A. altissima and V. negundo were classified as Level II with moderate capacity; and P. orientalis, P. tricuspidata, and G. microphylla were grouped as Level III with relatively weak capacity”
Claim · model-written summary
The artificially planted Elymus dahuricus showed superior carbon sequestration efficiency compared with naturally regenerated pioneer species.
- Taxon
- E. dahuricusCampeiostachys dahuricae0
- Outcome
- carbon sequestration efficiencye0
- Direction
- superiore0
- Comparator
- naturally regenerated pioneer speciese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the artificially planted species E. dahuricus demonstrated superior carbon sequestration efficiency compared with naturally regenerated pioneer species”
Claim · model-written summary
Pioneer species had higher carbon sequestration capacity than Platycladus orientalis.
Verbatim
e0“the pioneer species exhibited higher carbon sequestration capacity than P. orientalis”
Claim · model-written summary
Elymus dahuricus should be prioritized in restoration practice and combined with Ailanthus altissima and Vitex negundo to maximize carbon sink benefits.
- Taxon
- E. dahuricusCampeiostachys dahuricae0
- Outcome
- be prioritized in restoration practicese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“It is recommended that E. dahuricus be prioritized in restoration practices and combined with species such as A. altissima and V. negundo”