Publication Date:
2005-06-01
Description:
Afforestation can increase soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, but the selection of tree species may be critical. This study explored soil CO2 production and effluxes in relation to SOC contents in temperate forests. Sites included even-aged (38 years) first generation stands of eight coniferous and two deciduous species planted at three sites along a gradient in soil fertility. SOC stocks (forest floor + mineral soil 050 cm) differed significantly between tree species, but soil type influenced SOC stocks the most. SOC stocks were significantly higher for stands on low-fertility sandy soils (141 ± 31 Mg C·ha1) than stands on fertile loamy soils (62 ± 14 Mg C·ha1). Soil CO2 effluxes were measured on two occasions in 2002 and varied between 18.7 and 36.3 kg C·ha1·day1. Variability within temperature-adjusted fluxes was not clearly related to tree species or soil type. Potential CO2 production rates in a laboratory incubation experiment (reported as CO2 produced per unit soil C) were mainly affected by site and were two times higher for soils from the nutrient-rich site compared with the most nutrient-poor site. Thus, the combined effect of contrasting CO2 production rates and stocks of soil C may explain the similar CO2 effluxes measured in the field. Results suggest that selection of soil type and tree species are important for SOC sequestration in future afforestation projects.
Print ISSN:
0045-5067
Electronic ISSN:
1208-6037
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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