Seasonal carbon accumulation by groundcover in the Central Siberian subtaiga forest-steppe zone

Abstract

The research is dedicated to comparing the above ground living vegetation carbon stock in various site conditions. The study was carried out in the Karaul'noe forestry located near Krasnoyarsk, Russia. We placed the research plots in stands of varying density (0.34-1.06) and landforms. Seven research plots are of the closed type (the groundcover develop under the canopy) and three research plots are of the open type (the bank of the Yenisei River, hayfield, area under power lines). Open (forestless) plots (the bank of the Yenisei River, hayfield, area under power lines) and pine forests with forest floor dominated by ferns/tall grasses were of the maximum above ground living vegetation carbon stocks values (from 2.01 to 2.46 tonnes of carbon per ha). A significant carbon sequestration was observed in the pine forest of lingonberry/moss type (1.58 tonnes of carbon per ha) since the moss layer makes a significant contribution to the groundcover carbon accumulation.