The impact of different management methods on the growth and structure of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata secondary forests

Continuous cover forestry (CCF) can maintain sustainable production while balancing ecological, economic, and social functions. Based on its basic principles, many management methods have been developed. However, a long-term assessment of the effects of different management methods on forest growth and structure remains poorly understood. We aim to analyze the dynamic changes in forest productivity and structure under three management methods, explore the long-term effects of different management methods on forest growth and structure, and provide insights for sustainable management of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata secondary forests. Based on survey data from 2013, 2020, and 2025, we used one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a generalized linear mixed effects model to compare the growth and stand structure of Q. aliena var. acuteserrata secondary forests under three management methods (target tree management (TTM), structured-based forest management (SBFM), secondary forest comprehensive silviculture (SFCS), and control (CK)) at intervals of 7 and 12 years after treatment. We found that all management methods enhanced tree growth. Among them, SBFM exhibited the most significant promoting effect on the growth of tree diameter at breast height (DBH). During 2013–2020, the mean absolute growth rate (AGR) of stand volume under SBFM was significantly higher than that under TTM. The AGR of carbon density in SBFM was significantly higher than that in SFCS and CK, although its difference from TTM did not reach statistical significance. Different management methods had no clear effect on the mortality rate of trees, but TTM and SBFM exhibited higher recruitment rates than SFCS after several years of management. SBFM promotes a shift from aggregated to random spatial distribution, significantly enhancing stand mingling; SFCS improves mingling to a lesser extent, whereas TTM has limited influence on stand spatial structure. In addition, the effects of forest management practices on tree growth and stand structure are time-dependent. Together, these findings highlight the critical role of forest management and fill a gap in the study of the long-term impact of different management methods on forest growth.