Sequestration of C in a Spanish chestnut coppice

J F Gallardo Lancho,Mª I González

doi:10.5424/srf/200413s1-00859

Abstract

The balance of C is one of the most important balances in nature, since it determines the flow of organic matter, governs that of other bioelements (N, P, S, etc.), and controls the content of CO2 in the atmosphere. The objective of this work was to quantify the C sequestration in a Sweet chestnut forest located in the «Sierra de Gata» Mountains (Central-Western Spain). This chestnut coppice is located in the south edge of the «Sierra de Gata» mountains (province of Cáceres, central-western Spain). Climatic characteristics are mean temperature 15 ºC and mean annual-rainfall 1,158 mm yr-1, i. e., sub-humid Mediterranean. The soils are an association of haplic Umbrisols and Leptosols. This coppice of Castanea sativa is 25 years old, i. e., the usual rotation time. The accumulations of C in the tree biomass was 58 Mg C ha-1 yr-1, the calculated litter decomposition-constants 0.39 yr-1, and the aboveground annual-production 5.25 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. The accumulation of C in the Ah horizons was 143 Mg C ha-1. On calculating a global balance, inputs of C into this forest ecosystem are always greater than the C outputs, the excess being 4.7 Mg C ha-1 yr-1.

Highlights

Introduction and objetiveOne of the most important balances in nature is that of carbon, since it determines the flow of organic matter and it governs that of other bioelements (N, P, S, etc.; Schlesinger, 1995)
Batjes (1999) pointed out that, for estimating the potentiality of C sequestration in ecosystems, two questions should be previously addressed: First at all, what is the original content of the climax or natural soil in soil C; and, secondly, what are the changes induced by the management on soil and soil organicC (SOC) content
The method for estimating the C sequestration by soil should take in account the C content, horizon depths, density, and stoniness of the different soil horizons; the results are expressed in Mg ha-1 and referred to an indicated soil depth

Summary

Introduction and objetive

One of the most important balances in nature is that of carbon, since it determines the flow of organic matter and it governs that of other bioelements (N, P, S, etc.; Schlesinger, 1995). In the idea to know the capacity of C sequestration of different Spanish ecosystems, the objective of this work was to quantify the C sequestered in a selected, well studied, Spanish chestnut coppice located in the «Sierra de Gata» Mountains (Central-Western Spain). The study stand is located the south edge of the «Sierra de Gata» mountains (province of Cáceres, central-western Spain; Martin et al, 1995; Gallardo et al, 1997). This Spanish district is located close to the Portuguese border. The selected coppice site is almost at the summit of the range (South side; 940 m a.s.l.) The climate of this district is sub-humid Mediterranean (the length of the summer drought usually is shorter than three months). A distribution of the rainwater throughout the ecosystem is given by Moreno et al (1994) and Gallardo et al (1995)

Methods

Results

Discussion