Aims: Litterfall is a key parameter in forest biogeochemical cycle and fire risk prediction. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the litterfall variations with forest ages. Quantifying the interannual variation of forest litterfall is crucial for reducing uncertainties in large-scale litterfall prediction. Methods: Based on the available dataset (N = 318) with continuous multi-year (≥2 years) measurements of litterfall in Chinese planted and secondary forests, coefficient of variation (CV), variation percent (VP), and the ratio of next-year litterfall to current-year litterfall were used as the indexes to quantify the interannual variability in litterfall. Important Findings: The interannual variations of litterfall showed a declining trend with increasing age from 1 to 90 years. The litterfall variations were the largest in 1–10 years (mean CV = 23.51% and mean VP = −28.59% to 20.89%), which were mainly from tree growth (mean ratio of next-year to current-year = 1.20). In 11–40 years, the interannual variations of litterfall gradually decreased but still varied widely, mean CV was ~18% and mean VP ranged from −17.69% to 21.19%. In 41–90 years, the interannual variations minimized to 8.98% in mean CV and ~8% in mean VP. As a result, forest litterfall remained relatively low and constant when stand age was larger than 40 years. This result was different from the previous assumptions that forest litterfall reached relatively stable when stand age was larger than 30, 20 or even 15 years. Our findings can improve the knowledge about forest litter ecology and provide the groundwork for carbon budget and biogeochemical cycle models at a large scale.

A method was put forward to identify the combined heat and drought (CHD) events that occurred in summer and affected spring maize in Liaoning province. The spatial and temporal characteristics of CHD and its effects on maize were evaluated based on daily meteorological data at 52 meteorological stations in Liaoning from 1961 to 2020, as well as agricultural data including details of the maize development periods. The effects of CHD on the photosynthetic capacity of maize were evaluated using SIF remote sensing data from 2001 to 2020. The differences in maize photosynthetic capacity in the summers of 2009 and 2018 were compared in detail. The results show that from 1961 to 2020, the occurrence range, frequency, and severity of summer CHD events increased in Liaoning. CHD events were more frequent in June/July, and higher-intensity CHD events were more frequent in July/August. From 1961 to 2020, CHD events occurred in 69% of the years of reduced meteorological yield, and reduced meteorological yield occurred in 41% of the years with CHD events. Maize solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), an index of photosynthesis, was sensitive to temperature (negatively correlated) and precipitation (positively correlated). The CHD events slowed the increasing SIF from the three-leaf stage to the jointing stage, and they stopped the increasing SIF or decreased it at the tasseling–flowering to silking stages. Therefore, maize photosynthesis may be most sensitive to CHD during the flowering to silking stages, and CHD during the silking to milk stages may have the greatest impact on maize yield. Understanding the effects of CHD on maize growth/yield provides a scientific basis for reducing its negative impacts on maize production.

A field experiment was undertaken to measure diurnal variation in photosynthetic and light-response parameters of leaves of Phragmites australis growing in the Liaohe River Delta wetland, China. Four developmental stages (leaf-expansion, jointing, heading, and mature stages) and three (upper, middle, and lower layers) or five vertical layers (top, upper, middle, lower, and bottom layers) were delimited. Diurnal variations in net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate showed single-peak or double-peak curves that were lower in the morning and evening and higher at noon. The diurnal variation in intercellular CO₂ concentration showed the opposite pattern, with higher values in the morning and evening and lower values at noon. Midday depression was observed under strong light, in the top, upper, and middle layers but not under weak light or in the lower and bottom layers. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were higher in the upper layer, and gradually decreased in value and in diurnal variability below the middle layer with increasing proximity to the plant base. Leaves showed a strong photosynthetic ability at the leaf-expansion stage, with the maximum net photosynthetic rate in the middle layer and the minimum net photosynthetic rate in the lower layer. Photosynthetic ability increased at the jointing and heading stages. The maximum net photosynthetic rate was in the upper or middle layers and the minimum in the bottom layer. Photosynthetic ability was weak at the mature stage. The light compensation point in leaves was 27.1–38.2, 24.6–29.5, 27.7–72.6, and 15.4–31.0 μmol⋅m⁻²⋅s⁻¹ at the leaf-expansion, jointing, heading, and mature stages, respectively. The developmental stages of P. australis leaves were ranked, from highest ability to use weak light to lowest, as follows: mature stage > jointing stage > leaf-expansion stage > heading stage.

Flash droughts, characterized by their abrupt onset and rapid intensification, are predicted to increase in frequency and severity under global warming. Understanding the incidence and progression of a flash drought and its impact on maize growth is crucial for maize production to withstand flash drought events. This study used the evaporative demand drought index (EDDI) method to evaluate the incidence of summer drought in Liaoning during the period 1961–2020. It examined the incidence and characteristics of summer flash droughts in Liaoning Province in the period of 1961–2020 and evaluated the factors responsible and the impact on maize during the critical development period. The ratio of the number of stations recording a disaster to total number of stations (IOC) curve, i.e., the ratio of the number of stations recording disasters and total stations, for summer flash droughts in Liaoning showed an upward trend during the period of 1961–2020, with large-scale, regional, and local flash droughts occurring in 8, 10, and 31 years, respectively. Summer flash droughts in Liaoning were mainly in the extreme drought category and ranged in frequency from 10% to 20% in most areas. Before the flash drought occurrence in three typical years (1989, 1997, and 2018), a precipitation deficit without large-scale high-temperature events was observed, and the cumulative water deficit caused the flash drought. Regional or large-scale high-temperature events were often accompanied by flash droughts, and the drought intensified rapidly, owing to the influence of heat waves and water deficits. Summer flash droughts caused a reduction in total primary productivity (GPP) of maize by more than 20% in most areas in the three typical years. The yield reduction rate in 1989, 1997, and 2018, was 27.6%, 26.4%, and 5%, respectively. The degree of decline in maize productivity and yield was associated with the onset and duration of the flash drought. The atmospheric conditions of summer flash droughts were characterized by high-pressure anomalies and atmospheric subsidence, which were unconducive for precipitation but conducive to flash drought occurrence. The continuous high-pressure anomaly promoted the maintenance of the flash drought.