Effects of stand features on aboveground biomass and biomass conversion and expansion factors based on a Pinus sylvestris L. chronosequence in Western Poland

Andrzej M Jagodziński,Kamil Gęsikiewicz,Marcin K Dyderski,Paweł Horodecki

doi:10.1007/s10342-019-01197-z

Abstract

Although Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most economically important European timber trees, there is still insufficient data about biomass variability and its relationships with stand features. Therefore, we aimed: (1) to develop biomass models for different aboveground biomass components at tree and stand levels, as well as biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs), (2) to assess the relationships between stand parameters and aboveground biomass and BCEFs and (3) to compare stand biomass obtained using BCEFs with models developed based on stand parameters (age, basal area, stand volume and mean height). Using a chronosequence (3–117 years old) of 120 plots within even-aged pure Scots pine stands and 791 sample trees, we prepared tree- and stand-level allometric equations and BCEFs for aboveground biomass determination. Using stand age, density, stand volume and mean height, we prepared a set of models for biomass and BCEFs. Our study indicated that stand biomass increased with increasing height, volume and age and with decreasing stand density during stand development. Stand-level models provided better accuracy than BCEF-based models. The best predictors of biomass were stand volume and mean height. We also confirmed highly dynamic increases in stand biomass and decreases in BCEFs in the youngest phase of stand growth and relative stabilization in later stages of Scots pine stand development. The models obtained may be used in large-scale forest biomass inventories and increase our knowledge of carbon sequestration in forest biomass.

Highlights

Stand biomass is one of the most important measures of space and resource utilization in forest ecosystems
We aimed: (1) to develop biomass models for different aboveground biomass components at tree and stand levels, as well as biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs) for Scots pine, (2) to assess the relationships between stand parameters and aboveground biomass and biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs) and (3) to compare stand biomass obtained using BCEFs with models developed based on stand parameters
V—growing stock volume, G—basal area, N—density, A—stand age, Hg—mean height weighted by tree basal area, AB—total aboveground biomass, BR—branch biomass, FL—foliage biomass, ST—stem biomass were established during different studies; their selection was usually connected with visual estimation as being representative of larger areas of neighborhood forests

Summary

Introduction

Stand biomass is one of the most important measures of space and resource utilization in forest ecosystems. The most common are tree-level models, allowing for biomass estimation based on dimensions of single trees This tool uses general allometric rules of biomass scaling according to the organism’s dimensions (Weiner 2004; McCarthy and Enquist 2007; Poorter et al 2015). These models usually have high accuracy (Zianis et al 2005), their applicability is limited only to datasets containing single tree observations. BCEFs are developed using biomass calculated from tree-level inventories; their accuracy is biased at the level of tree-level biomass estimation and development of stand-level models

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion