Abstract
Aim of study: This study aims at evaluating the impact of site preparation techniques prior to plantation on carbon storage and distribution in a young mixed stand of Pseudotsuga menziesii (PM) and Castanea sativa (CS). Area of study: The experimental field was established near Macedo de Cavaleiros, Northern Portugal, at 700 m elevation, mean annual temperature 12ºC and mean annual rainfall 678 mm. Material and Methods: The experimental layout includes three replicates, where the different treatments corresponding to different tillage intensities were randomly distributed (high, moderate and slight intensity), in plots with an area of 375 m2 each. Twenty six months after forest stand installation, samples of herbaceous vegetation (0.49 m2 quadrat), forest species (8 PM and 8 CS) and mineral soil (at 0-5, 5-15, 15-30 and 30-60 cm depth) were collected in 15 randomly selected points in each treatment, processed in laboratory and analyzed for carbon by elemental carbon analyzer. Main results: The results obtained showed that: (i) more than 90% of the total carbon stored in the system is located in the soil, increasing in depth with tillage intensity; (ii) the contribution of herbaceous vegetation and related roots to the carbon storage is very low; (iii) the amount of carbon per tree is higher in CS than in PM; (iv) the global carbon storage was affected by soil tillage generally decreasing with the increase of tillage intensity. Accordingly, carbon storage capacity as affected by the application of different site preparation techniques should be a decision support tool in afforestation schemes.Keywords: Site preparation; forest species; herbaceous vegetation; carbon storage; mineral soil; Portugal.
Highlights
Mechanical site preparation to install forest plantations can be justified by numerous reasons as limiting weed competition, increasing effective soil depth, reducing soil strength to encourage root expansion, improving water holding capacity and nutrient availability
Main results: The results obtained showed that: (i) more than 90% of the total carbon stored in the system is located in the soil, increasing in depth with tillage intensity; (ii) the contribution of herbaceous vegetation and related roots to the carbon storage is very low; (iii) the amount of carbon per tree is higher in Castanea sativa (CS) than in Pseudotsuga menziesii (PM); (iv) the global carbon storage was affected by soil tillage generally decreasing with the increase of tillage intensity
The present study aims to evaluate carbon storage and distribution on a mixed forest stands recently established under different site preparation techniques
Summary
Mechanical site preparation to install forest plantations can be justified by numerous reasons as limiting weed competition, increasing effective soil depth, reducing soil strength to encourage root expansion, improving water holding capacity and nutrient availability These effects are especially important in the Mediterranean region, where water shortage is the main factor limiting the success of afforestation (Daget, 1977; Ojasvi et al, 1999; Kanegae et al, 2000; Silva, 2002; Fonseca et al, 2011). The correct installation of forest stands, which results in better productivity and lower impacts on soil and environment has to consider the growing concern with effects on global warming and climate change (Birdsey et al, 1993) In this context, it is essential to select appropriate site preparation techniques for new plantations, in order to satisfy an increasingly current requirement in sustainable resources management (Worrell and Hampson, 1997; Zheng et al, 2008). There is a wide variation in the time period and the rate at which carbon may accumulate in soil, depending on site preparation, plant productivity, soil characteristics, past history of carbon gains, climate, and site management
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