Allometric biomass equations for 12 tree species in coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests, Northeastern China.

Huaijiang He,Jinsong Wang,Folega Fousseni,Haijun Dai,Xiuhai Zhao,Song Yang,Qiang Zuo,Chunyu Zhang,Dusan Gomory

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186226

Abstract

Understanding forest carbon budget and dynamics for sustainable resource management and ecosystem functions requires quantification of above- and below-ground biomass at individual tree species and stand levels. In this study, a total of 122 trees (9–12 per species) were destructively sampled to determine above- and below-ground biomass of 12 tree species (Acer mandshuricum, Acer mono, Betula platyphylla, Carpinus cordata, Fraxinus mandshurica, Juglans mandshurica, Maackia amurensis, P. koraiensis, Populus ussuriensis, Quercus mongolica, Tilia amurensis and Ulmus japonica) in coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests of Northeastern China, an area of the largest natural forest in the country. Biomass allocation was examined and biomass models were developed using diameter as independent variable for individual tree species and all species combined. The results showed that the largest biomass allocation of all species combined was on stems (57.1%), followed by coarse root (21.3%), branch (18.7%), and foliage (2.9%). The log-transformed model was statistically significant for all biomass components, although predicting power was higher for species-specific models than for all species combined, general biomass models, and higher for stems, roots, above-ground biomass, and total tree biomass than for branch and foliage biomass. These findings supplement the previous studies on this forest type by additional sample trees, species and locations, and support biomass research on forest carbon budget and dynamics by management activities such as thinning and harvesting in the northeastern part of China.

Highlights

Forests can accumulate a large amount of biomass and play an important role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining atmospheric CO2 balance on earth[1]
We focused on 12 major tree species in the coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests, Northeastern China, Pinus koraiensis, Quercus mongolica, Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Juglans mandshurica, Acer mandshuricum, Acer mono, Ulmus japonica and Betula platyphylla that dominate the upper layer and Rhamnus davurica, Corylus mandshurica, Acer barbinerve, Carpinus cordata and Syringa reticulata var
We examined biomass allocation including above- and below-ground biomass ratio and developed allometric equations for different biomass components of 12 individual tree species and all the species combined, in temperate coniferous and broadleaved mixed forests, northeastern China

Summary

Introduction

Forests can accumulate a large amount of biomass and play an important role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions and maintaining atmospheric CO2 balance on earth[1]. About one third of the earth surface is covered by forests, of which China is one of the countries with abundant forest resource in world[2]. According to the eighth national forest resource inventory (2008~2013), total area of forest has reached to 2.08×109 ha, total growing stock to 1.51×1011 m3, and total forest cover to 21.4% [3]. The northeastern part of China has the largest reservoir of natural forests, representing 27.8% of the total area of forests and 27.5% of the total growing stock in the country [3]. There are few studies which have adequately explored the relationships, especially in temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest in northeastern China[5,6,7]

Objectives

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion