Abstract
Black locust is a drought-resistant tree species with high biomass productivity during juvenility; it is able to thrive on wastelands, such as former brown coal fields and dry agricultural areas. However, research conducted on this species in such areas is limited. This paper aims to provide a basis for predicting tree woody biomass for black locust based on tree, competition, and site variables at 14 sites in northeast Germany that were previously utilized for mining or agriculture. The study areas, which are located in an area covering 320 km × 280 km, are characterized by a variety of climatic and soil conditions. Influential variables, including tree parameters, competition, and climatic parameters were considered. Allometric biomass models were employed. The findings show that the most important parameters are tree and competition variables. Different former land utilizations, such as mining or agriculture, as well as growth by cores or stumps, significantly influenced aboveground woody biomass production. The new biomass models developed as part of this study can be applied to calculate woody biomass production and carbon sequestration of Robinia pseudoacacia L. in short rotation coppices in previous mining and agricultural areas.
Highlights
Robinia pseudoacacia L. was one of the first North American tree species to be introduced intoEurope at the beginning of the 17th century [1,2]
To fill this research gap, the objectives of this study were (1) to develop allometric biomass equations for Robinia pseudoacacia L. growing in short rotation coppices (SRCs) in Germany; (2) to assess whether the inclusion of competition- and climate variables improves predictions from allometric biomass equations; (3) to determine if different biomass equations are necessary for trees growing on former agricultural and mining sites, as well as core versus stump growth; and (4) to determine the absolute woody biomass production and carbon storage per hectare and per year in the analyzed study stands (SRC) for black locust in Germany
Both land-use types expressed a minimum root collar diameter (RCD) and diameter at breast height (DBH) of 0.1 cm, while the maximum RCD was at 20.2 cm and the maximum
Summary
Europe at the beginning of the 17th century [1,2]. It is one of the most widely planted woody species in the world [3], and the third most important deciduous tree species, after Populus and Eucalyptus, for plantations, short rotation coppices (SRCs). (EEG 2004) [5], marked an increase in fast-growing tree production. Short rotation coppice can have a rotation cycle of 2–3 (short), 4–10 (medium), or 10–20 years (long), depending on management objectives [6,7]. To initiate SRCs, black locust seedlings are typically cultivated for one or two years
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