scholarly journals Forest management to increase carbon sequestration in boreal Pinus sylvestris forests

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Jörgensen ◽  
Gustaf Granath ◽  
Björn D. Lindahl ◽  
Joachim Strengbom
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
C Stock ◽  
Natural Climate

Abstract Background and aims Forest management towards increased carbon (C) sequestration has repeatedly been suggested as a “natural climate solution”. We evaluated the potential of altered management to increase C sequestration in boreal Pinus sylvestris forest plantations. Methods At 29 forest sites, distributed along a 1300 km latitudinal gradient in Sweden, we studied interactive effects of fertilization and thinning on accumulation of C in standing biomass and the organic horizon over a 40 year period. Results Abstention from thinning increased the total C stock by 50% on average. The increase was significant (14% on average) even when C in the removed timber was included in the total ecosystem C pool. Fertilization of thinned stands increased stocks similarly regardless of including (11%) or excluding (12%) removed biomass, and fertilization combined with abstention from thinning had a synergistic effect on C stocks that generated an increase of 79% (35% when removed timber was included in the C stock). A positive effect of fertilization on C stocks was observed along the entire gradient but was greater in relative terms at high latitudes. Fertilization also reduced soil respiration rates. Conclusion Taken together, our results suggest that changed forest management practices have major potential to increase the C sink of boreal forests. Although promising, these benefits should be evaluated against the undesired effects that such management can have on economic revenue, timber quality, biodiversity and delivery of other ecosystem services.

Carbon stocks in Tasmanian soils

Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Cotching
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Initial Soil ◽  
If Current ◽  
Intensive Cropping ◽  
The Difference

Soil carbon (C) stocks were calculated for Tasmanian soil orders to 0.3 and 1.0 m depth from existing datasets. Tasmanian soils have C stocks of 49–117 Mg C/ha in the upper 0.3 m, with Ferrosols having the largest soil C stocks. Mean soil C stocks in agricultural soils were significantly lower under intensive cropping than under irrigated pasture. The range in soil C within soil orders indicates that it is critical to determine initial soil C stocks at individual sites and farms for C accounting and trading purposes, because the initial soil C content will determine if current or changed management practices are likely to result in soil C sequestration or emission. The distribution of C within the profile was significantly different between agricultural and forested land, with agricultural soils having two-thirds of their soil C in the upper 0.3 m, compared with half for forested soils. The difference in this proportion between agricultural and forested land was largest in Dermosols (0.72 v. 0.47). The total amount of soil C in a soil to 1.0 m depth may not change with a change in land use, but the distribution can and any change in soil C deeper in the profile might affect how soil C can be managed for sequestration. Tasmanian soil C stocks are significantly greater than those in mainland states of Australia, reflecting the lower mean annual temperature and higher precipitation in Tasmania, which result in less oxidation of soil organic matter.

scholarly journals Tree species richness increases ecosystem carbon storage in subtropical forests

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1885) ◽  
pp. 20181240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojuan Liu ◽  
Stefan Trogisch ◽  
Jin-Sheng He ◽  
Pascal A. Niklaus ◽  
Helge Bruelheide ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Southeast China ◽  
Subtropical Forests ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
C Stock ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Time Periods

Forest ecosystems are an integral component of the global carbon cycle as they take up and release large amounts of C over short time periods (C flux) or accumulate it over longer time periods (C stock). However, there remains uncertainty about whether and in which direction C fluxes and in particular C stocks may differ between forests of high versus low species richness. Based on a comprehensive dataset derived from field-based measurements, we tested the effect of species richness (3–20 tree species) and stand age (22–116 years) on six compartments of above- and below-ground C stocks and four components of C fluxes in subtropical forests in southeast China. Across forest stands, total C stock was 149 ± 12 Mg ha −1 with richness explaining 28.5% and age explaining 29.4% of variation in this measure. Species-rich stands had higher C stocks and fluxes than stands with low richness; and, in addition, old stands had higher C stocks than young ones. Overall, for each additional tree species, the total C stock increased by 6.4%. Our results provide comprehensive evidence for diversity-mediated above- and below-ground C sequestration in species-rich subtropical forests in southeast China. Therefore, afforestation policies in this region and elsewhere should consider a change from the current focus on monocultures to multi-species plantations to increase C fixation and thus slow increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and global warming.

Biochar from sugarcane residues: An overview of its sequestration potential in Sao Paulo, Brazil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lefebvre ◽  
Jeroen Meersmans ◽  
Guy Kirk ◽  
Adrian Williams
Keyword(s):  
Soil Carbon ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Paulo State ◽  
Sequestration Potential ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
C Stock ◽  
Soil C Stock

<p>Harvesting sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) produces large quantities of biomass residues. We investigated the potential for converting these residues into biochar (recalcitrant carbon rich material) for soil carbon (C) sequestration. We modified a version of the RothC soil carbon model to follow changes in soil C stocks considering different amounts of fresh sugarcane residues and biochar (including recalcitrant and labile biochar fractions). We used Sao Paulo State (Brazil) as a case study due to its large sugarcane production and associated soil C sequestration potential.</p><p>Mechanical harvesting of sugarcane fields leaves behind > 10 t dry matter of trash (leaves) ha<sup>-1</sup> year<sup>-1</sup>. Although trash blanketing increases soil fertility, an excessive amount is detrimental and reduces the subsequent crop yield. After the optimal trash blanketing amount, sugarcane cultivation still produces 5.9 t C ha<sup>-1</sup> year<sup>-1</sup> of excess trash and bagasse (processing residues) which are available for subsequent use.</p><p>The available residues could produce 2.5 t of slow-pyrolysis (550°C) biochar C ha<sup>-1</sup> year<sup>-1</sup>. The model predicts this could increase sugarcane field soil C stock on average by 2.4 ± 0.4 t C ha<sup>‑1</sup> year<sup>‑1</sup>, after accounting for the climate and soil type variability across the State. Comparing different scenarios, we found that applying fresh residues into the field results in a smaller increase in soil C stock compared to the biochar because the soil C approaches a new equilibrium. For instance, adding 1.2 t of biochar C ha<sup>‑1</sup> year<sup>‑1</sup> along with 3.2 t of fresh residue C ha<sup>‑1</sup> year<sup>‑1 </sup>increased the soil C stock by 1.8 t C ha<sup>‑1</sup> year<sup>‑1 </sup>after 10 years of repeated applications. In contrast, adding 0.62 t of biochar C ha<sup>‑1</sup> year<sup>‑1</sup> with 4.5 t of fresh sugarcane residues C ha<sup>‑1</sup> year<sup>‑1 </sup>increased the soil carbon soil stock by 1.4 t C ha<sup>‑1</sup> year<sup>‑1</sup> after 10 years of application. These are reductions 25% and 40% of the potential soil C accumulation rates compared with applying available residues as biochar.   </p><p>We also tested the sensitivity of the model to biochar-induced positive priming (i.e. increased mineralization of soil organic C) using published values. This showed that the C sequestration balance remains positive over the long term, even considering an extremely high positive-priming factor. Upscaling our results to the total 5 Mha of sugarcane in Sao Paulo State, biochar application could sequester up to 50 Mt of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent per year, representing 31% of the emissions attributed to the State in 2016.</p><p>This study provides first insights into the sequestration potential of biochar application on sugarcane fields. Measurements of changes in soil C stocks in sugarcane field experiments are needed to further validate the model, and the emissions to implement the practice at large scale need to be taken into account. As the climate crisis grows, the need for greenhouse gas removal technologies becomes crucial. Assessing the net effectiveness of readily available technologies is essential to guide policy makers.  </p>

CARBON STOCKS, LITTERFALL AND PRUNING RESIDUES IN MONOCULTURE AND AGROFORESTRY CACAO PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
ULF SCHNEIDEWIND ◽  
WIEBKE NIETHER ◽  
LAURA ARMENGOT ◽  
MONIKA SCHNEIDER ◽  
DANIELA SAUER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Agroforestry Systems ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Pruning Residues

SUMMARYAgroforestry systems (AFS) can serve to decrease ecosystem carbon (C) losses caused by deforestation and inadequate soil management. Because of their shade tolerance, cacao plants are suitable to be grown in AFS, since they can be combined with other kinds of trees and shrubs. The potential for C sequestration in cacao farming systems depends on various factors, such as management practices, stand structure and plantation age. We compared conventionally and organically managed cacao monoculture systems (MCS) and AFS in Sara Ana (Bolivia) with respect to C stocks in plant biomass and to amounts of litterfall and pruning residues. The total aboveground C stocks of the AFS (26 Mg C ha−1) considerably exceeded those of the MCS (~7 Mg C ha−1), although the biomass of cacao trees was greater in the MCS compared to the AFS. Due to higher tree density, annual litterfall in the AFS (2.2 Mg C ha−1 year−1) substantially exceeded that in the MCS (1.2 Mg C ha−1 year−1). The amounts of C in pruning residues (2.6 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in MCS to 4.3 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in AFS) was more than twice those in the litterfall. Annual nitrogen (N) inputs to the soil through pruning residues of cacao and N-fixing trees were up to 10 times higher than the N inputs through external fertiliser application. We conclude that appropriate management of cacao AFS, involving the pruning of leguminous trees, will lead to increases in biomass, litter quantity and quality as well as soil C and N stocks. Thus, we recommend stimulating the expansion of well-managed AFS to improve soil fertility and enhance C sequestration in soils.

scholarly journals Soil ploughing for forest regeneration leads to changes in carbon decomposition – a case study with stable isotopes

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-278
Author(s):  
Marcin Stróżecki ◽  
Hanna Silvennoinen ◽  
Paweł Strzeliński ◽  
Bogdan Heronim Chojnicki
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Respiration ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Carbon Decomposition ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Dynamic Chamber ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
C Stock

Abstract It is important to quantify carbon decomposition to assess the reforestation impact on the forest floor C stocks. Estimating the loss of C stock in a short-term perspective requires measuring changes in soil respiration. This is not trivial due to the contribution of both soil microbes and vegetation to the measured CO2 flux. However, C stable isotopes can be used to partition the respiration and potentially to assess how much of the recalcitrant C stock in the forest floor is lost. Here, we measured the soil respiration at two forest sites where different regeneration methods were applied, along with an intact forest soil for reference. In so doing, we used a closed dynamic chamber for measuring respiration and the 13C composition of the emitted CO2. The chamber measurements were then supplemented with the soil organic carbon analysis and its δ13C content. The mean δ13C-CO2 estimates for the source of the CO2 were -26.4, -27.9 and -29.5‰, for the forest, unploughed and ploughed, respectively. The 13C of the soil organic carbon did, not differ significantly between sites. The higher soil respiration rate at the forest, as compared to the unploughed site, could be attributed to the autotrophic respiration by the forest floor vegetation.

A conceptual model of biotic disturbance ecology in the central interior of B.C.: How forest management can turn Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde

2000 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy J. Lewis ◽  
B. Staffan Lindgren
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Forest Health ◽  
Disturbance Ecology ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Biotic Disturbance ◽  
Forested Ecosystems

In forested ecosystems, insects and pathogens play an important role in ecosystem function, and there is increasing evidence that these organisms are primary determinants of forest structure and composition. Recent research has confirmed this even in sub-boreal forests, where fire was traditionally thought to be the major agent of disturbance and hence the main driver of successional processes. This paper presents a conceptual model of biotic disturbance ecology in sub-boreal forests of central B.C. We also describe how forest management practices can lead to forest health problems by disrupting these ecological processes, and the natural population dynamics of insects and pathogens. Key words: disturbance ecology, succession, forest pest, sub-boreal, forest management, forest health

The potential for full inversion tillage to increase soil carbon storage following pasture renewal in New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Beare ◽  
Erin Lawrence-Smith ◽  
Denis Curtin ◽  
Sam McNally ◽  
Frank Kelliher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Soil C Sequestration ◽  
Accumulation Efficiency

<p><span>The global atmospheric concentration of CO<sub>2</sub> and other greenhouse gases (GHG) is steadily increasing. It is estimated that, worldwide, soil C sequestration could offset GHG emissions by 400–1200 Mt C per year. Relative to 1990, New Zealand’s CH<sub>4</sub> and N<sub>2</sub>O emissions in 2013 had increased by 7% and 23% respectively, which translates to an annual emission increase of 1.09 Mt C that could be offset by a similar annual increase in soil C stock. Recent research has shown that some New Zealand pastoral soils are under-saturated in SOC. Subsurface soils (15–30 cm depth) typically have a greater soil C saturation deficit than topsoil (0-30 cm) because plant C inputs (roots) are lower. Using management practices that expose more of the under-saturated soil to higher C inputs could result in increased soil C storage and stabilisation.</span></p><p><span>Pasture renewal (destruction and re-establishment of pasture) is promoted to livestock farmers to improve pasture performance. This typically involves shallow cultivation or direct drilling to establish new grass. Whereas shallow cultivation of soil typically results in a loss of SOC, deeper full inversion tillage (FIT) of soil would result in the burial of C-rich topsoil in closer proximity to mineral material that has a higher stabilisation capacity.  Buried SOC is expected to have a slower decomposition rate owing to less variable temperatures and more anoxic conditions. Deep FIT would also bring under-saturated mineral soil to the surface, where the deposition of SOC from high producing pastures could increase the stabilisation of SOC.  Both the slower turnover of buried SOM and greater stabilisation of new carbon on under-saturated minerals at the soil surface are expected to result in increased SOC sequestration. </span></p><p><span>There is a lack of experimental data to directly address the effect of FIT on soil C stocks in pastoral soils. We applied a simple empirical model to predicting changes in soil C stocks following a one-off application of FIT (30 cm) during pasture renewal. The model accounts for the decomposition of SOC in buried topsoil and the accumulation of C in the new topsoil (inverted subsoil). The model was used to derive national estimates of soil C sequestration under different scenarios of C accumulation efficiency, farmer adoption of FIT and pasture renewal rates.</span></p><p>Our modelled estimates suggest that 32 Mt C could be sequestered over 20 years following a one-time application of FIT (0-30 cm) to 2 M ha of High Producing Grasslands on suitable New Zealand soils. This estimate is based on 100% accumulation efficiency (i.e. topsoil C stocks are returned to pre-inversion levels within 20 years) and a 10% annual rate of pasture renewal. In the absence of direct experimental evidence, a more conservative estimate is warranted, where topsoil C stocks are projected to return to 80% of pre-inversion levels, thus sequestering 20 Mt C. This paper will present our modelled estimates of SOC sequestration during FIT pasture renewal and discuss the potential benefits and adverse effects of deploying this management practice.</p>

scholarly journals Economic and ecological trade-off analysis of forest ecosystems: options for boreal forests

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Chen ◽  
Chander Shahi ◽  
Han Y.H. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Trade Offs

Intensive forest management practices for production forestry can potentially impact the sustainability of ecological functions and associated forest ecosystem services. Understanding the trade-offs between economic gains and ecological losses is critical for the sustainable management of forest resources. However, economic and ecological trade-offs are typically uncertain, vary at temporal and spatial scales, and are difficult to measure. Moreover, the methods used to quantify economic and ecological trade-offs might have conflicting priorities. We reviewed the most current published literature related to trade-off analysis between economic gains and sustainability of forest ecosystem functions and associated services, and we found that most economic and ecological trade-offs studies were conducted in tropical and temperate forests, with few having their focus on boreal forests. Analytical methods of these published studies included monetary valuation, biophysical models, optimization programming, production possibility frontier, and multi-objective optimization. This review has identified the knowledge gaps in the understanding and measurement of the economic and ecological trade-offs for the sustainable management of boreal forests. While it remains uncertain how economic activities might best maintain and support multiple ecological functions and associated services in the boreal forests, which are susceptible to climate change and disturbances, we propose the use of optimization methods employing multiple objectives. For any tool to provide sustainable and optimal forest management solutions, we propose that appropriate and robust data must be collected and analyzed.

Carbon dynamics from carbonate dissolution in Australian agricultural soils

Soil Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waqar Ahmad ◽  
Balwant Singh ◽  
Ram C. Dalal ◽  
Feike A. Dijkstra
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Co2 Emission ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Atmospheric Co2 ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Carbonate Dissolution ◽  
Dissolution Zone ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
Soil Carbonate

Land-use and management practices on limed acidic and carbonate-bearing soils can fundamentally alter carbon (C) dynamics, creating an important feedback to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Transformation of carbonates in such soils and its implication for C sequestration with climate change are largely unknown and there is much speculation about inorganic C sequestration via bicarbonates. Soil carbonate equilibrium is complicated, and all reactants and reaction products need to be accounted for fully to assess whether specific processes lead to a net removal of atmospheric CO2. Data are scarce on the estimates of CaCO3 stocks and the effect of land-use management practices on these stocks, and there is a lack of understanding on the fate of CO2 released from carbonates. We estimated carbonate stocks from four major soil types in Australia (Calcarosols, Vertosols, Kandosols and Chromosols). In >200-mm rainfall zone, which is important for Australian agriculture, the CaCO3-C stocks ranged from 60.7 to 2542 Mt at 0–0.3 m depth (dissolution zone), and from 260 to 15 660 Mt at 0–1.0 m depth. The combined CaCO3-C stocks in Vertosols, Kandosols and Chromosols were about 30% of those in Calcarosols. Total average CaCO3-C stocks in the dissolution zone represented 11–23% of the stocks present at 0–1.0 m depth, across the four soil types. These estimates provide a realistic picture of the current variation of CaCO3-C stocks in Australia while offering a baseline to estimate potential CO2 emission–sequestration through land-use changes for these soil types. In addition, we provide an overview of the uncertainties in accounting for CO2 emission from soil carbonate dissolution and major inorganic C transformations in soils as affected by land-use change and management practices, including liming of acidic soils and its secondary effects on the mobility of dissolved organic C. We also consider impacts of liming on mineralisation of the native soil C, and when these transformations should be considered a net atmospheric CO2 source or sink.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Carbon Stock in Pine Plantations in Southern Spain through ALS Data and K-Nearest Neighbor Algorithm Based Models

Geosciences ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Navarrete-Poyatos ◽  
Rafael M. Navarro-Cerrillo ◽  
Miguel A. Lara-Gómez ◽  
Joaquín Duque-Lazo ◽  
Maria de los Angeles Varo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Accurate Estimation ◽  
Biomass Estimation ◽  
K Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C Stocks ◽  
C Stock

Accurate estimation of forest biomass to enable the mapping of forest C stocks over large areas is of considerable interest nowadays. Airborne laser scanning (ALS) systems bring a new perspective to forest inventories and subsequent biomass estimation. The objective of this research was to combine growth models used to update old inventory data to a reference year, low-density ALS data, and k-nearest neighbor (kNN) algorithm Random Forest to conduct biomass inventories aimed at estimating the C sequestration capacity in large Pinus plantations. We obtained a C stock in biomass (Wt-S) of 12.57 Mg ha−1, ranging significantly from 19.93 Mg ha−1 for P. halepensis to 49.05 Mg ha−1 for P. nigra, and a soil organic C stock of the composite soil samples (0–40 cm) ranging from 20.41 Mg ha−1 in P. sylvestris to 37.32 Mg ha−1 in P. halepensis. When generalizing these data to the whole area, we obtained an overall C-stock value of 48.01 Mg C ha−1, ranging from 23.96 Mg C ha−1 for P. halepensis to 58.09 Mg C ha−1 for P. nigra. Considering the mean value of the on-site C stock, the study area sustains 1,289,604 Mg per hectare (corresponding to 4,732,869 Mg CO2), with a net increase of 4.79 Mg ha−1 year−1. Such C cartography can help forest managers to improve forest silviculture with regard to C sequestration and, thus, climate change mitigation.

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