Abstract
The quantitative relationship between carbon sequestration potential and stand ages of Pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest is not documented in Pakistan. Using field inventory data, this study underlines the patterns of biomass and carbon allocation across a chronosequence of Chir Pine forest. Based on the uniform shelterwood silvicultural management system, the forest was classified into three stand age classes representing the young stand (<50 years), mature stand (50–75 years), and overmature stand (> 75 years). The results showed an increasing trend in living tree biomass carbon with stand age. However, soil carbon showed gradually decreasing trend from young to overmature stand. Similarly, deadwood, litter, and understory biomass carbon showed an increase pattern of changes. Altogether, the results highlighted that the mean carbon values of all components varied between 90.3 t·C·ha−1 in the young stand and 309.5 t·C·ha−1 in the overmature stand. Furthermore, our results confirm that the current management operations affect the forest floor and soil carbon. Therefore, we suggest that different protection measures should be considered during management operations to enhance soil and forest floor carbon.
Highlights
Biomass and carbon storage in any forest ecosystem play a multiple and significant role in the global carbon cycle [1]
Forest stand development has a strong relationship with carbon pools of forest ecosystem because tree growth rate of forest ecosystem mostly varies with stand age [8, 9]
Cutting and felling operations are concentrated to overmature blocks, thinning operation are carried out in mature block, and cleaning operations are in the young block. ese management operations in various blocks may affect the carbon allocation in different carbon pools in the litter, deadwood, and soil. us, complete accurate information is needed regarding biomass and carbon storage in different age stand of the Chir with respect to the current management operations. erefore, we designed this study with overall objectives of assessing biomass and carbon stock of P. roxburghii forest ecosystem on basis of stand age and outlining the effect of management practices on carbon stock in respective stand age classes
Summary
Patterns of Biomass and Carbon Allocation across Chronosequence of Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) Forest in Pakistan: Inventory-Based Estimate. E quantitative relationship between carbon sequestration potential and stand ages of Pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest is not documented in Pakistan. This study underlines the patterns of biomass and carbon allocation across a chronosequence of Chir Pine forest. E results showed an increasing trend in living tree biomass carbon with stand age. Soil carbon showed gradually decreasing trend from young to overmature stand. Deadwood, litter, and understory biomass carbon showed an increase pattern of changes. Our results confirm that the current management operations affect the forest floor and soil carbon. Erefore, we suggest that different protection measures should be considered during management operations to enhance soil and forest floor carbon Our results confirm that the current management operations affect the forest floor and soil carbon. erefore, we suggest that different protection measures should be considered during management operations to enhance soil and forest floor carbon
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