다양한 수종의 묘목을 고밀도로 심는 모듈군락식재가 기존의 성목식재보다 자연림 복원 효과성이 뛰어난지 알고자 야외 실험을 했다. 또 모듈군락식재의 식재밀도 차이에 따라 생장이 촉진되는지, 또 식피율이 높아지는지를 알아보았다. 큰나무를 넓게 띄어 심는 성목식재구(대조구)와 다종의 묘목을 고밀도로 심는 모듈군락식재구(처리구)로 구분했고, 다시 식재밀도에 따른 3주/㎡와 1주/㎡ 모듈군락식재구로 나눠 실험을 설계했다. 2019년 5월부터 26개월간 공시재료의 생존율, 생장량(수고, 수관폭, 근원직경), 식피율을 측정했고, 측정 수고값을 활용하여 장래 수고생장을 예측했다. 모듈 군락식재구의 생존율과 상대생장량이 성목식재구보다 높았다. 모듈군락식재구의 식피율은 23개월 이전에 지표면을 완전히 덮었지만, 성목식재구는 이식스트레스로 인해 오히려 식피율이 낮아졌다. 고밀도로 심은 모듈군락식재구의 묘목이 자라서 식재 후 5∼6.5년 만에 성목식재구보다 더 높이 자랄 것으로 예측됐다. 이런 결과를 이끈 원인은 다종(多 種)·묘목·고밀도 식재와 토양개량·멀칭 등의 식재기반 개선 때문이라 본다. 즉, 모듈군락식재구에 심은 묘목은 큰나무를 심은 성목식재구보다 식재 후 환경 적응력이 뛰어나 생존율이 높고, 초기 생장량이 많았을 것이다. 다양한 자생수종의 고밀도 혼식은 상호보완적 환경압을 완화하는 동시에 개체간 경쟁을 유발해 생장 촉진을 이끌었다. 더불어, 식재기반 개선은 묘목의 활착율 상승과 생장량 증가에 유효했다고 본다. 식재밀도가 높을수록 식피율이 급격히 늘어나, 제초 등의 사후관리비 절감 효과가 있을 것이다. 모듈군락식재구(3주/㎡, 1주/㎡)의 식재밀도가 높았을 때 수고생장이 촉진되 었고, 수관폭·근원직경은 식재밀도가 낮았을 때 높아지는 경향을 보였지만, 통계적 차이가 없었다.

This study aims to investigate whether modular community planting, which entailed planting a variety of species of seedlings at high density, was more effective in restoring natural forests than the existing mature tree planting. We also investigated whether the planting density of the modular community planting facilitates growth or improves the tree layer coverage. We conducted outdoor experiments in which the samples were divided into a mature tree planting plot (control plot), where mature trees were planted at wide intervals, and a modular community planting (MCP) plot (treatment plot), where multiple seedlings were planted in high density. The MCP plot was further divided into the plot in which 3 seedlings were planted per ㎡and the plot of 1 seedling per ㎡. We measured the specimens’ survival rate, growth rate (tree height, crown width, and root collar diameter), and cover rate for 26 months from May 2019 and the predicted future tree height growth using the measured tree height. The survival rate and relative growth rate of the MCP were higher than those of the mature tree planting plot. The vertical coverage rate of the tree crown in the MCP exhibited complete coverage of the ground before 23 months, while the coverage rate of the mature tree planting decreased due to transplantation stress. The seedlings in the MCP, which were planted at high density, grew well and were predicted to grow higher than the mature trees in the large tree planting plot within 5 to 6.5 years after planting. It was due to multiple species, seedlings, high-density planting, and planting foundation improvements, such as soil enhancement and mulching. In other words, the seedlings planted in the MCP had a higher survival rate as their environmental adaptation after planting was better, and their early growth was also larger than the trees in the mature planting plot. The high-density mixed planting of various native species not only mitigated the inter-complementary environmental pressures but also facilitated growth by inducing competition between species. Moreover, the planting foundation improvement effectively increased the seedlings’ viability and growth rate. A reduction in follow-up management costs is expected as the tree layer coverage sharply increases due to the higher planting density. In the MCP (3 seedlings per ㎡and 1 seedling per ㎡), the tree height growth was promoted with the higher planting density, and the crown width and root collar diameter tended to be larger with the lower planting density, but these differences were not statistically significant.

요 약
ABSTRACT
서 론
연구방법
    1. 연구내용
    2. 연구방법
    3. 조사 및 분석
결과 및 고찰
    1. 수목 생존율
    2. 수목 생장량
    3. 식피율 변화
    4. 수고생장 예측
    5. 종합고찰
REFERENCES

• 한용희(광주·전남환경보전협회 수변생태관리센터 부장) | Yong-Hee Han (Dept. of Waterside Ecology Management Center., B11F, 43-22, Cheomdangwagi-ro 208beon-gil, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 61011, Korea)
• 박석곤(국립순천대학교 산림자원･조경학부 교수) | Seok-Gon Park (Division of Forest Resources and Landscape Architecture, Sunchon National Univ., Sunchoen, 57922, Korea) Correspondence author