Abstract
Carbon pool assessments in forests is one of the most important tasks of forest ecology. Despite the wide cultivation range, and economical and traditional importance, the aboveground biomass of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) stands is poorly characterized. To increase knowledge about forest biomass accumulation and to provide a set of tools for aboveground biomass estimation, we studied a chronosequence of 12 larch forest stands (7–120 years old). From these stands, we measured the biomass of 96 sample trees ranging from 1.9 to 57.9 cm in diameter at breast height. We provided age-specific and generalized allometric equations, biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs) and biomass models based on forest stand characteristics. Aboveground biomass of stands ranged from 4.46 (7-year-old forest stand) to 445.76 Mg ha−1 (106-year-old). Stand biomass increased with increasing stand age, basal area, mean diameter, height and total stem volume and decreased with increasing density. BCEFs of the aboveground biomass and stem were almost constant (mean BCEFs of 0.4688 and 0.3833 Mg m−3, respectively). Our generalized models at the tree and stand level had lower bias in predicting the biomass of the forest stands studied, than other published models. The set of tools provided fills the gap in biomass estimation caused by the low number of studies on larch biomass, which allows for better estimation of forest carbon pools.
Highlights
In the age of climate change, many ecologists focus their studies on carbon cycling in the biosphere [1,2,3]
We aimed to provide a comprehensive set of allometric equations (AEs) and biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs) for L. decidua at the tree and stand levels, as well as to assess changes in forest stand biomass and allocation with increasing age and to compare them with published models
Models based on only diameters at breast height (DBH) explained lower amounts of variance and had higher RMSE than those based on both DBH and height
Summary
In the age of climate change, many ecologists focus their studies on carbon cycling in the biosphere [1,2,3]. Forests are one of the most important carbon reservoirs, accumulating globally ca. 2.4 ± 0.4 × 1015 g C year−1 [4] Their role in the mitigating effects of climate change is important [4,5,6]. For proper planning of increasing carbon sequestration by forests and calculation of their ability to mitigate climatic change, there is an urgent need to provide accurate carbon assessment tools. As carbon content in plant tissues is relatively constant, most inventories focus on biomass estimation [11,12,13,14]. Accuracy of biomass assessment is crucial for carbon reporting
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
