Effect of Thinning on Environmental Factors and Wild Mushroom Fruting in Quercus mongolica Forest

In order to determine the effects of thinning on mushroom fruiting, microclimate and air temperature in Quercus mongolica forests, this study investigated changes in crown density, soil temperature, air temperature and throughfall in the natural Q. mongolica forest which was thinned by approximately 45% four years ago. The results showed that crown density was smaller than control by 6% from April to October, The soil temperature and air temperature in the thinned stands were significantly higher than those of the control by 1~2 ℃ until August and differences in air and soil temperature. The average daily temperature difference was higher than control by 0.2~ 0.7 ℃ until October. Throughfall from July to September in the thinned was approximately 135 mm higher than in the control. The maximum difference in throughfall per unit time was 3.5 mm/h. Soil moisture in the thinned site increased by approximately 5% compared with the control and reduced to the normal moisture after 4 days in both sites. 55 mushroom species were found in the thinned area between July and September. The thinned site contained 10 mycorrhizal mushrooms more than the control and 1 saprophytic mushroom species more than the control. Shannon-Wiener Index was 3.2, approximately 0.5 higher than the control. Tylopilus neofelleus, etc., occurred in the thinned site more quickly, but Aaricus subrutilescens, Clitocybe sp, occurred later. In the thinned site, the dominance of Tylopilus neofellelus and Armillaria sp. increased approximately 6% and 30% and yield about 1.5 times and 20 times, respectively. In conclusion, thinning in the Q. mongolica forest increased the soil and air temperature, soil moisture, throughfall and the diversity of mushroom species, and advanced the period of occurrence, and increased dominance and yield of some mycorrhizal mushrooms and Amillaria sp.