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Chinese Journal of Ecology ›› 2025, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1): 49-55.doi: 10.13292/j.1000-4890.202501.019

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Relationship between freezing damage and age class and slope aspect of Juglans regia in Xinjiang, China.

LIU Huaqing1, WANG Bo2, JIA Yanyan1, BA Xuerui1, ZHANG Wei1,3*   

  1. (1College of Biology Science and Technology, Yili Normal University, Yining 835000, Xinjiang, China; 2College of Resources and Environment, Yili Normal University, Yining 835000, Xinjiang, China; 3Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Protection and Utilization in Xinjiang Yili Valley, Yining 835000, Xinjiang, China).

  • Online:2025-01-10 Published:2025-01-10

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Abstract: Severe freezing damage leads to stunted growth of walnut, reduced yield and even plant death. In this study, we investigated the freezing damage on Juglans regia in the Xinjiang Wild Walnut Nature Reserve, and analyzed the distribution characteristics of freezing damage levels of J. regia and the response of freezing damage to age class of trees and slope aspect. The results showed that: (1) The freezing damage on J. regia reached 87.1%. The proportion of damage at level 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 22.5%, 43.4%, 17.5%, and 3.7%, respectively, with the severe and very severe freezing damage together being 21.2%. (2) The proportion of freezing damaged J. regia varied in different slope aspects, with the highest proportion on semishaded slopes (26.6%), followed by semi-sunny slopes (23.7%) and shaded slopes (21.2%), and the lowest in the sunny slopes (15.6%). Resistance abilities varied among different age classes of J. regia, with the highest proportion of frozen damage in seedlings (43.4%), followed by middle-aged trees (36.5%), elderly trees (19.1%), and the lowest in young trees (1.0%). There were significant differences in the proportion of freezing damage of J. regia in the same age class from different slope aspects (P<0.05). (3) Mild and moderate freezing damage mainly occurred on the semi-sunny slopes, while severe and very severe freezing damage mainly occurred on the semi-shaded slopes. Level 1 and level 4 freezing damage mainly occurred on seedlings, while level 2 and level 3 freezing damage mainly occurred on middle-aged trees. (4) Freezing damage was significantly correlated with diameter at the breast height and slope aspect of J. regia (P<0.05), and significantly negatively correlated with crown width (P<0.01). Nearly 90% of J. regia in the reserve suffered from freezing damage. The proportion of freezing damage level of J. regia varied greatly in different slope aspects and age classes. Our results provided scientific reference for the prevention of freezing damage on J. regia.


Key words: Juglans regia, freezing damage, diameter at breast height, slope aspect