Relationship of slope aspect and position on biomass and carbon storage in a Phyllostachys edulis stand

Abstract

The impact of slope aspect and position on biomass and carbon storage in a Phyllostachys edulis stand was tested by a two-factor analysis of variance （ANOVA）. Results of the ANOVA showed：（1） no interaction between slope aspect and position. Stand carbon storage was significant for slope aspect （P ＜0.05） and slope position （P＜0.01） with soil carbon storage and forest carbon storage significant for slope position （P＜0.05）. （2） Comparisons of mean index values at different locations showed that forest carbon storage on sunny slopes was larger than on shaded slopes and greater on mid to low slopes than on upper slopes. The maximum mean stand density （3 817 treehm－2） and stand biomass （48.705 thm－2） were found on sunny，low slopes with the maximum mean soil organic matter content （22.500 gkg-1），soil carbon storage （107.273 thm－2），and forest carbon storage （156.111 thm－2） found on sunny，mid slopes. Slope position and shading did not affect the mean diameter at breast height （DBH） or soil bulk density. （3） For spatial distribution，the mean forest carbon storage of 18 sample plots was （101.352 14.980） thm－2 （14.78%） of which 20.24% was in the standing biomass，and the remainder was in the soil.［Ch，3 fig. 4 tab. 19 ref.］