{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T17:25:10Z","timestamp":1787246710283,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787184000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["52478053"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52478053"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["52078222"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52078222"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["42307055"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["42307055"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["52478053"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52478053"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01h0zpd94","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["52078222"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52078222"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01h0zpd94","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["42307055"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["42307055"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01h0zpd94","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Forest Resources and Silviculture","award":["LMZYPY-06"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LMZYPY-06"]}]},{"name":"Anhui Province University Natural Science Research Foundation","award":["2024AH051402"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024AH051402"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003453","name":"Guangdong Natural Science Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2024A1515010783"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024A1515010783"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003453","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Key Scientific Research Project of Colleges and Universities of Guangdong Education Department in 2020","award":["2020ZDZX1033"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2020ZDZX1033"]}]},{"name":"Philosophy and Social Science Program of Guangdong Province","award":["GD22CYS18"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GD22CYS18"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Plants"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Post-fire plantations play a crucial role in recovering carbon stocks, yet how carbon is partitioned among vegetation, litter, and soil pools during stand growth dynamics remains insufficiently resolved for Quercus acutissima plantations. Forest ecosystems play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. This study quantified carbon-storage allocation and identified stand characteristics and soil factors associated with carbon recovery in fire-affected Q. acutissima plantations. Using a chronosequence design, we compared five stand-age classes (4, 10, 25, 45, and 50 years) on Huangfu Mountain, China, and measured carbon stocks in tree organs, understory vegetation, litter, and the 0\u201330 cm soil layer. Ecosystem carbon stock increased from 31.64 t ha\u22121 in 4-year-old stands to 230.66 t ha\u22121 in 50-year-old stands, representing a 629% increase. Soil was the dominant carbon pool, with 0\u201330 cm soil carbon rising from 25.32 to 126.56 t ha\u22121 (a 400% increase). The contribution of soil carbon to total ecosystem storage declined from approximately 80% in 4-year-old stands to 55% in 50-year-old stands, indicating a shift in allocation toward vegetation biomass over time. Carbon accumulation was primarily concentrated in the 0\u201310 cm layer. Tree basal area was significantly associated with ecosystem carbon stocks, identified as a key structural factor linked to carbon accumulation through potential direct and indirect pathways involving light availability and soil carbon. Soil organic matter and nitrogen were also positively correlated with carbon accumulation. These findings suggest that stand development and topsoil carbon formation are closely linked to post-fire carbon recovery processes. Future management measures should optimize stand density, maintain soil fertility, and protect surface carbon to enhance long-term carbon sequestration.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/plants15162525","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T16:05:19Z","timestamp":1787241919000},"page":"2525","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Dynamics of Carbon Storage Allocation and Its Drivers in Post-Fire Quercus acutissima Forests During Successional Recovery"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7572-7517","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yuhua","family":"Ma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Modern Agriculure and Food Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China"},{"name":"Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Forest Resources and Silviculture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kang","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Intelligent Construction and Hydraulic Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hao","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Intelligent Construction and Hydraulic Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shuai","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Intelligent Construction and Hydraulic Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haotian","family":"Zhu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Modern Agriculure and Food Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yichen","family":"Fan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Modern Agriculure and Food Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cheng","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hubei Key Laboratory of Biologic Resources Protection and Utilization, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi 445000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2523-8803","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fasih Ullah","family":"Haider","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7618-2141","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Xu","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chun","family":"Feng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Forest Resources and Silviculture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China"},{"name":"School of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhen","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Geographic Engineering and Spatial Information, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1038\/s41559-017-0461-7","article-title":"Redefining ecosystem multifunctionality","volume":"2","author":"Manning","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nat. Ecol. Evol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-019-13798-8","article-title":"Forest management in southern China generates short term extensive carbon sequestration","volume":"11","author":"Tong","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"839","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abl4649","article-title":"The biodiversity and ecosystem service contributions and trade-offs of forest restoration approaches","volume":"376","author":"Hua","year":"2022","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3154","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-024-47143-5","article-title":"Maximizing carbon sequestration potential in Chinese forests through optimal management","volume":"15","author":"Yu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134204","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2019.134204","article-title":"Plant diversity and soil stoichiometry regulates the changes in multifunctionality during pine temperate forest secondary succession","volume":"697","year":"2019","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"478","DOI":"10.1038\/s41558-023-01627-2","article-title":"Increasing the number of stressors reduces soil ecosystem services worldwide","volume":"13","author":"Rillig","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nat. Clim. Change"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1038\/nclimate3303","article-title":"Forest disturbances under climate change","volume":"7","author":"Seidl","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nat. Clim. Change"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e02171","DOI":"10.1002\/ecs2.2171","article-title":"Climate variability and forest fires in central and south-central Chile","volume":"9","author":"Lara","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ecosphere"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2094","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.3858","article-title":"Carbon accumulation by Pinus sylvestris forest plantations after different periods of afforestation in a semiarid sandy ecosystem","volume":"32","author":"Huang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1007\/s11676-025-01879-y","article-title":"Microbial community variation in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils of Castanopsis hystrix plantations across stand ages","volume":"36","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. For. Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2173","DOI":"10.1002\/ldr.5052","article-title":"Increasing stand age increases N deficiency but alleviates relative P limitations in Castanopsis hystrix plantations in Southern China","volume":"35","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Land Degrad. Dev."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"2220","article-title":"Carbon storage allocation pattern of a Quercus acutissima plantation ecosystem","volume":"45","author":"Song","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. South. Agric."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"1944","article-title":"Carbon storage of pine-oak mixed plantations at different stand ages","volume":"24","author":"Cui","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ecol. Environ. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"e005","article-title":"Understory vegetation diversity dynamics across a chronosequence of Quercus acutissima plantations: Roles of stand development and environmental factors","volume":"1","author":"Ma","year":"2026","journal-title":"For. Res. Adv."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"39","article-title":"Soil ecological stoichiometric characteristics of Quercus acutissima plantations at different stand ages","volume":"42","author":"Fang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Southwest For. Univ. (Nat. Sci.)"},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"1","article-title":"Water conservation capacity of litter and soil in Quercus acutissima plantations of different stand ages","volume":"53","author":"Ma","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Anhui Agric. Univ."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1266","DOI":"10.1111\/1365-2745.12861","article-title":"Linking resource availability and heterogeneity to understorey species diversity through succession in boreal forest of Canada","volume":"106","author":"Kumar","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.3724\/SP.J.1003.2009.09253","article-title":"Methods and protocols for plant community inventory","volume":"17","author":"Fang","year":"2009","journal-title":"Biodivers. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Zhou, G., Yin, G., and Tang, X. (2018). Carbon Stocks in China\u2019s Forest Ecosystems: Biomass Equations, Science Press."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110154","DOI":"10.1016\/j.agrformet.2024.110154","article-title":"Biomass carbon stock and allocation of planted and natural forests in the Loess Plateau of China","volume":"355","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"Agric. For. Meteorol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164974","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2023.164974","article-title":"Carbon storage capacity of Castanopsis hystrix plantations at different stand-ages in South China","volume":"894","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Total Environ."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104190","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijggc.2024.104190","article-title":"AI enhanced data assimilation and uncertainty quantification applied to Geological Carbon Storage","volume":"136","author":"Seabra","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Greenh. Gas Control"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"121","article-title":"Carbon storage variation characteristics and influencing factors of Mongolian oak forests at different developmental stages in the Liaodong mountainous area","volume":"46","author":"Hu","year":"2026","journal-title":"J. Cent. South Univ. For. Technol."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Wang, B.Y. (2015). Study on Biomass and Carbon Storage of Natural Secondary Forests of Quercus Variabilis at Different Growth Stages on the Northern Slope of Funiu Mountain. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Henan Agricultural University]."},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"79","article-title":"Carbon storage and allocation patterns of chestnut forests at different stand ages on the southern slope of Yanshan Mountains","volume":"44","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Hebei Agric. Univ."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"661","article-title":"Nutrient accumulation and allocation of aboveground parts in Quercus acutissima plantations under two site conditions in Anhui, China","volume":"34","author":"Tang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Chin. J. Plant Ecol."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"36","article-title":"Estimating carbon storage of poplar plantations in Heze, Shandong Province based on Landsat TM data","volume":"35","author":"Liu","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Beijing For. Univ."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Zhang, T. (2012). Biomass and Carbon Storage of Larix Principis-Rupprechtii Plantations in North China. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Beijing Forestry University]."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"1175","article-title":"Carbon density and its spatial distribution in Quercus acutissima plantations under different thinning intensities","volume":"23","author":"Cheng","year":"2012","journal-title":"Chin. J. Appl. Ecol."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Yang, X. (2011). Carbon Storage of Poplar Plantations in Xiping County, Henan Province and Its Response to Environmental Factors. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Beijing Forestry University]."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Wang, X. (2011). Distribution Characteristics of Carbon Storage in Larix olgensis Plantations of Different Ages in the Changbai Mountains. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Beijing Forestry University]."},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"623","article-title":"Dynamics of carbon storage in Larix olgensis plantations in Heilongjiang Province","volume":"33","author":"Wang","year":"2013","journal-title":"Bull. Bot. Res."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"38","article-title":"Carbon storage of Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations in Shatang Forest Farm, Guangxi","volume":"40","author":"Tao","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Northwest A&F Univ. (Nat. Sci. Ed.)"},{"key":"ref_34","first-page":"145","article-title":"Simulation and study on the growth pattern of Quercus acutissima plantations","volume":"29","author":"Wei","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Northwest For. Univ."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"112","article-title":"Carbon storage and allocation pattern of spruce plantations under different stand densities","volume":"42","author":"Feng","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Cent. South Univ. For. Technol."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"e03386","article-title":"Mixed forest conversion from moso bamboo forests in wetland parks increases understory species diversity and improves soils","volume":"57","author":"Ma","year":"2025","journal-title":"Glob. Ecol. Conserv."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e70270","DOI":"10.1111\/gcb.70270","article-title":"Seasonal variation of phyllosphere microbial communities under warming","volume":"31","author":"Lei","year":"2025","journal-title":"Glob. Change Biol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"D\u0142u\u017cewski, P., Wiatrowska, K., and Ku\u015bmierz, S. (2024). The Role of Stand Age in Soil Carbon Dynamics in Afforested Post-Agricultural Ecosystems: The Case of Scots Pine Forests in Dfb-Climate Zone. Forests, 15.","DOI":"10.3390\/f15122127"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rezgui, F., Mouillot, F., Semmar, N., Zribi, L., Khaldi, A., Nasr, Z., and Gharbi, F. (2024). Assessment of Pinus halepensis Forests\u2019 Vulnerability Using the Temporal Dynamics of Carbon Stocks and Fire Traits in Tunisia. Fire, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/fire7060204"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lai, Z., Jin, A., Feng, W., She, W., Lang, T., and Liu, Z. (2025). Comparative Carbon Allocation and Soil Carbon Storage in Three Revegetated Shrublands in the Mu Us Desert. Forests, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/f16040586"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Niccoli, F., Marfella, L., Glanville, H.C., Rutigliano, F.A., and Battipaglia, G. (2025). Post-Fire Carbon Dynamics in a UK Woodland: A Case Study from the Roaches Nature Reserve. Forests, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/f16101547"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8398","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-024-52785-6","article-title":"Carbon sequestration potential of tree planting in China","volume":"15","author":"Yao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foreco.2015.04.025","article-title":"Fine-root distribution, production, decomposition, and effect on soil organic carbon of three revegetation shrub species in northwest China","volume":"359","author":"Lai","year":"2016","journal-title":"For. Ecol. Manag."}],"container-title":["Plants"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/15\/16\/2525\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T16:31:48Z","timestamp":1787243508000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2223-7747\/15\/16\/2525"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"16","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]}},"alternative-id":["plants15162525"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/plants15162525","relation":{},"ISSN":["2223-7747"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2223-7747","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]]}}}