Less study has investigated how the generation and carbon accumulation dynamics of sprouts on trees damaged by disturbances are related to the damage types. This study was performed by taking advantage of the “natural laboratory” in subtropical secondary forest formed after the disturbance like this heavy ice storm fall in southern China in 2008. Data were collected for eleven consecutive years and the sprouts generation of three major damage types were studied to track the sprouts biomass restoring process and the carbon accumulation dynamics of Schima superba. The results showed that the mean sprout total biomass per tree and the mean sprout total biomass carbon per tree for uprooted trees all exhibited a bimodal curve, rising over time to a maximum in year 4 and in year 9 after the storm, respectively, and then declining. They all increased rapidly after 6th year, and gradually stabilized in the 9th year after recovery for decapitated trees. After 11 years of restoration, the sprout biomass carbon per tree for decapitated trees was about 4.5 kg. While 3 years after the disaster, this value for uprooted trees maintained a stable level within the recovery process, and about quarter of decapitated trees. The sprout biomass carbon storage per unit area of decapitated trees increased gradually, and was about 6 tons per hectare after 11 years. While that of uprooted and leaning trees aintained a lower consistent level. In 2018, the total sprouts biomass of the decapitation trees only recovered to the state of the undamaged ones in 2009 after the disturbance. The results can provide a scientific basis for the natural restoration of the damaged ecosystem vegetation in the mining area.
 

disturbance, Schima superba, sprout biomass, sprout biomass carbon accumulation, damage type