Coarse Wood Research Articles

Seasonally Changing Interactions of Species Traits of Termites and Trees Promote Complementarity in Coarse Wood Decomposition.

Complementary resource use by functionally different species may accelerate ecosystem processes. However, how co-variation in plant traits and animal traits promotes complementarity through temporal plant-animal interactions is poorly understood, even less so in detrital systems, thereby hampering our fundamental understanding of decomposition and carbon turnover. We hypothesised that, in seasonal subtropical forests where termites are major deadwood decomposers, trait complementarity of both termite species and tree species should promote overall deadwood decomposition through different seasons and years. Findings from a four-year coarse wood decomposition experiment involving 27 tree and 5 termite species support this hypothesis. Phenological and mandibular traits of the two most abundant termite species controlled wood decomposition of tree species differing in wood traits, through the seasons over 4 years, thereby promoting overall deadwood decomposition rates. Our findings indicate that complementarity in functional trait co-variation in plants and animals plays an important role in carbon cycling.

Net primary productivity of Betula platyphylla woodland and the response of current-year shoots to vegetation degradation in Mongolian forest steppe

At the southern margin of forest steppe vegetation in Mongolia, Betula platyphylla woodlands occur on north-facing slopes and hill tops, where congeneric shrub Betula fusca often coexists. Woodland degradation results in B. fusca scrub with scattered B. platyphylla trees. We studied structure and productivity of a B. platyphylla woodland and the current-year shoot allometry in the Hustai National Park of central Mongolia. For the B. platyphylla woodland examined, stand basal area and estimated aboveground biomass for stems ≥ 3 cm diameter were 3.9 m2 ha–1 and 13.3 Mg dry mass ha–1, respectively. Leaf area index was 0.93 indicating open canopy layer. Aboveground net primary productivity as the sum of coarse wood production and current-year shoot mass amounted to 1.89 Mg dry mass ha–1 year–1, which was high relative to small aboveground biomass. Analysis of current-year shoot allometry demonstrated that B. platyphylla had more xeromorphic shoots in the scrub, with smaller specific leaf area, lower mass ratio of leaf laminae to supporting parts, and smaller lamina mass against sum of petiole basal area, than in the woodland. Our results indicate that current-year shoot allometry characterizes tree response to woodland degradation at the dry margin of forest steppe.

Laetiporus sulphureus in the mid-hills of Central Nepal: ecology, ethnomycology and present status

Laetiporus sulphureus is a well-known edible mushroom with a high medicinal value. It is reported from different places in Nepal, particularly from mid-hill areas. However, the ecology and ethnomycology of L. sulphureus were poorly known in Nepal. We aimed to study the ecology, ethnomycology, and present status of L. sulphureus from the mid-hills of Dolakha district, central Nepal. The habitat of L. sulphureus in the six different sites of the study area was surveyed to find out the dominant tree species and microclimatic conditions. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted to document ethnic knowledge and the status of L. sulphureus. We found dominance of tree species such as Tsuga dumosa, Quercus semicarpifolia, and Rhododendron arboreum in the habitat of L. sulphureus. Dead and decayed logs/trunk of these tree species were found to support L. sulphureus growth. Regarding microclimatic conditions, an average temperature of 20 °C, a light intensity of 1000–2000 lux, and relative humidity of 65–80% were recorded under the canopy where L. sulphureus was growing. Fruitbodies of L. sulphureus were found to be collected by local people for food and medicinal purposes. Local people were found to use dried L. sulphureus powder for the treatment of aliments such as diarrhea and hematochezia. The availability of L. sulphureus was found to be declining due to overharvesting, logging of the host tree, and the removal of coarse wood debris. Collection of L. sulphureus fruitbodies and logging of host tree should be regulated for its conservation in wild habitat. This study provides valuable information about the possible substrate types and environmental conditions that could be used for the successful domestication of L. sulphureus at the study sites and similar locations.

Utilization of alternative wood particles for modern thermal insulation products

Abstract Thermal insulation materials play a vital role in minimising energy loss in building operation and also affect the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling. In this context, it is becoming an increasingly important milestone to find suitable thermal insulation materials that not only meet the technical requirements but also minimise their environmental impact. The trend towards the use of eco-friendly materials for thermal insulation reflects the construction industry’s desire to contribute to environmental protection and the transition to more sustainable models of building construction and renovation. For more than 20 years, a number of research teams have been investigating the possibility of replacing synthetically produced materials such as mineral wool and polystyrene foam with natural fibre-based insulation materials. These alternatives include wood as a traditional, easily renewable raw material. This, together with the low energy intensity of processing and manufacturing wood materials, contributes to its low carbon footprint. Compared to traditional synthetic insulation materials, which are often energy intensive to produce, wood is a more environmentally friendly choice. However, with many European countries now facing a potential shortage of higher quality wood, it is necessary to look for alternative sources of wood, including in the field of thermal insulation materials, materials with a lower carbon footprint that can be produced from lower quality wood or from wood waste that would otherwise only have an energy use. The paper is devoted to the study and use of suitable wood waste and secondary raw materials from spruce wood (coarse wood chips, sawdust and wood flour) for the development of modern thermal insulations with the aim of an environmentally friendly and less energy-intensive production process compared to conventional insulants.

Correlation Between Coarse Wood Debris and Soil Different Chemical Properties of Three Forest Types in Northeast China

Correlation Between Coarse Wood Debris and Soil Different Chemical Properties of Three Forest Types in Northeast China

Evaluation of Skid Resistance and Comfort of Pedestrian Pavement with Asphalt-Based Wood Chip

This paper conducts an in-depth study and evaluation of pedestrian paths, with a particular focus on the anti-slip performance and walking comfort of wooden chip pedestrian walkways. Through controlled experiments, a comparative analysis was performed between wooden chip pedestrian walkways and ordinary paved brick walkways. The experimental results indicate that under dry conditions, the anti-slip performance of various road surfaces is good. However, in wet environments, the anti-slip performance of paved brick roads deteriorates significantly. In contrast, wooden chip pedestrian walkways, especially those mixed with asphalt and wood chips, exhibit excellent anti-slip properties and comfort. Additionally, the study reveals that the comfort of wooden chip pedestrian walkways is significantly better than that of paved brick walkways, and the comfort of asphalt materials is slightly better than emulsified asphalt. It is worth mentioning that fine wood chips provide less comfort than coarse wood chips. Although reducing the thickness can enhance comfort, considering the service life of the road, a thickness of 4–6 cm is most suitable. Finally, asphalt and wooden chip mixtures with coarse wood chips possess good water permeability, making them suitable for permeable drainage pavement designs, effectively reducing road surface water accumulation.

Deciphering factors controlling decay and nitrogen accumulation in coarse wood debris of five tree species using 15N labeled wood disks

Tree species and climate are considered the most critical drivers of coarse woody debris decay but disentangling their relative importance has proven challenging. We conducted a field accelerated decomposition experiment using 15N labeled wooden disks to investigate factors controlling fungi colonization, wood decay, and N fluxes during coarse woody debris decay. Wooden disks were produced from the stem of mature trees of 5 representative species in Eastern Canada (black spruce, balsam fir, white birch, sugar maple, and beech). Tree stems were collected from plots surface-sprayed with enriched 15N over 17 years. We monitored ergosterol concentration (as a proxy of fungal biomass), biomass loss, and 15N signal of wood disks placed on 5 sites with contrasted soil and climate properties. Biomass loss over 3 years reached up to 80 % for angiosperms, equivalent to about 50–80 years of decomposition. We report that tree species was the main predictor of wood decay, explaining more than 30 % of the variance, as well as fungal biomass and N content (up to 50 %). Climate and site parameters explained only 12 % of the variance in decay rates, 15 % of fungal biomass, and 31 % of N content. Finally, estimates indicate that fungal N transfer and biological nitrogen fixation account for a maximum of 30 % and 2 % of N inputs, respectively. This suggests that, in the studied sites, N derived from biological activity (i.e., fungal transfer and biological nitrogen fixation) is a minor source of exogenous N compared to abiotic sources (i.e., deposition, lateral transfers).

Individual tree volume estimation with terrestrial laser scanning: Evaluating reconstructive and allometric approaches

Accurate estimates of above-ground tree biomass within forest inventories are essential for calibration and validation of biomass mapping products based on Earth observation data. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) enables detailed and non-destructive volume estimation of individual trees, which can be converted to biomass with wood basic density. Existing TLS-based approaches range from simple geometrical features to virtual 3D reconstruction of entire trees. Validating such approaches with weight measurements is a key step before the integration of TLS or other close-range technologies into operational applications such as forest inventories. In this study, we firstly evaluate individual tree volume estimation approaches based on 3D reconstruction through quantitative structure models (QSM) against destructive reference data of 60 trees and compare them to operational allometric scaling models (ASM). Secondly, we determine the explanatory power of TLS-derived geometric parameters regarding total wood, stem, coarse wood and fine branch volume. We observe similar accuracy in merchantable (¿7 cm) wood compartments for ASMs (NRMSE = 25 %) and QSMs (NRMSE = 29 %), with QSMs showing better results for broadleaves than conifers and generally overestimating fine branch volume. Feature selection shows that a combination of stem diameters and volume of convex hulls around tree crowns has the most potential to model the entire tree volume including branches, especially for conifers. In cases where the quality of available point clouds is insufficient for QSMs, 3D information can thus still be utilised by deriving geometric parameters. The integration of crown dimension parameters into new allometric models could substantially improve the estimation of branch wood volume.

Wood Fiber from Norway Spruce—A Stand-Alone Growing Medium for Hydroponic Strawberry Production

There is an increased interest in the hydroponic production of strawberries in protected cultivation systems, and it is, therefore, urgent to develop new, more sustainable growing media alternatives. This study investigated the physical properties of wood fiber produced from Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) and peat:wood fiber substrate blends as well as the performance of the wood fiber in comparison to the industry standards, i.e., peat and coconut coir in the cultivation of hydroponic strawberry. Tray plants of the June-bearing strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivar ‘Malling Centenary’ were transplanted into five different growing media: a peat (80%) and perlite (20%) mixture, stand-alone (100%) coconut coir and three stand-alone (100%) Norway spruce wood fiber substrates (including coarse textured fibers with compact and loose packing density and compacted fine-textured fibers). Ripe strawberries were harvested and registered throughout the production season. The overall marketable yield was comparable across all the tested growing media; however, after 4 weeks of harvest, both coarse wood fiber and fine wood fiber showed better fruiting performance than the peat-perlite mixture. A trend for earlier berry maturation was observed for all wood fiber-based substrates. Plant parameters recorded after the end of production showed that plant height, number of leaves, and biomass production were higher in coarse wood fiber than in the peat-perlite mixture. Moreover, plants grown in wood fiber-based substrates had less unripe berries and flowers not harvested in comparison to both the peat and coir treatments.

Детрит в высокополнотных сосновых насаждениях подтаежно-лесостепного района Средней Сибири

At the present time, certain harmful effects are observed that affect forest ecosystems. They are forest fires, phytopathogenic activities, and invasive influence, in addition to changes in climatic conditions, in particular an increase in temperature. The study is intended to determine the potential stock of wood and carbon compounds in detritus. The principal categories for it are snags, downed dead wood, and stumps. Additionally, it predicts the amount of wood residues in the conditions of the taiga forest-steppe subzone of Central Siberia. A coarse woody detritus was examined in the structurally pure forests of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). A circular area of constant radius was used as an accounting unit. The cause woody detritus in snag was 82 %, in downed dead wood was 16 % (1.5–18.3 m3‧ha–1), in stumps was 2 % (0–2.6 m3‧ha–1). The content of detritus was found in only 11 % of the total stock of the stand. The environmental quality at the location of growth had a strong effect on the amount of detritus because of the growth rate of the trees, which is higher in the ideal conditions. Most of the coarse woody detritus (66.4 %) was accumulated in the stands of productivity class I, which was almost double that in the stands of productivity class II (33.6 %). The carbon content in snags, downed dead wood, and stumps was higher in high-density stands (0.81 or more) than in medium-density stands (0.6–0.8). The age and average height of the stand were considerable indicators for predicting stocks of wood and carbon in snags. The amount of wood and carbon in the downed dead wood also depended on the growth density and total stock of wood at the location. The regression equations were generated to predict the volume of the coarse wood detritus. According to the results, it can be concluded that in the investigated stands the destructive processes were identified, which were determined by the concentration of detritus. The production of detritus was activated by both age composition, when a major part of the trees enters the mature or overmature stages, and biogenic factors, which were stimulated by pathogenesis and climatic changes. For citation: Vais A.A., Varaksin G.S., Mamedova S.K., Anuev E.A., Gerasimova O.A. Detritus Inside High Density Pine Stands in the Taiga Forest-Steppe Subzone of Central Siberia. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 3, pp. 9–20. (In Russ.). https:// doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-3-9-20

Logging Residue Assessment in Salvage Logging Areas

Salvage logging operations often occur after large disturbances and usually leave behind a substantial quantity of residues, which is fundamental for maintaining soil fertility and facilitating ecosystem dynamics. This study aims to estimate the amount of logging residues following salvage operations categorized by two wood harvesting systems: Cut-To-Length (CTL) and Full-Tree System (FT). Logging residues in the harvested areas were sampled using linear transects and the data collected were divided into classes based on diameter. The quantity of residues was estimated using the Brown method for Fine Wood Debris (FWD) and the Van Wagner method for Coarse Wood Debris (CWD). Furthermore, the carbon and nutrient content associated with logging residues were also determined, considering their interaction with the soil organic layer. Overall, a higher quantity of FWD was detected in the sites cleared with the FT system and a higher quantity of CWD in the sites logged with the CTL system. Differences could be observed for all three years and systems considered, but only the third year reported statistically significant results (p<0.01). The soil and residue chemical analysis for carbon and nutrient contents revealed a high amount of carbon stored in a potential layer of 10 cm of soil (up to 85 Mg·C·ha-1), while only up to 15 Mg·C·ha-1 for the woody material.

Economic Evaluation of Different Implementation Variants and Categories of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 Using Forestry in Germany as a Case Study

The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 (EUBDS) aims to preserve and restore biodiversity by protecting large areas in the EU. An extensive part of these protected areas will presumably be covered by forests. This study analyses the economic effects of EUBDS implementation on German forestry in two scenarios, based on different possible interpretations of the EUBDS’ key commitments, using a forest economic simulation model. A special focus is placed on the opportunity costs of coarse wood debris (CWD). Over a simulated 200-year period, a decrease in timber harvest of 13% and 44% is estimated under the respective scenario assumptions. This leads to a reduction in the silvicultural contribution margin (SCM) of on average 0.25 B EUR a−1 (14%) and 0.79 B EUR a−1 (45%). In terms of the total SCM, protected forests contribute 35% and 15% in the two scenarios. The accumulation and preservation of CWD incurs a substantial loss of utility, as 15% and 19% of annual logging is required for conservation purposes. However, the EUBDS may also provide economically tangible benefits. A rational decision would be to implement a scenario if the “net benefit” from the protected status exceeds the losses from set-aside and conservation requirements.

Wood-decay fungi associated with decaying of coarse woody debris in Hail Region, North of Saudi Arabia.

The present study was conducted in order to describe the assemblage of wood decay fungi and mycomycetes associated with the Hail region in the North of Saudi Arabia by using incubation chambers. There was a collection of coarse woody debris from the study area, AL baithe, which was brought to the laboratory and placed inside a series of incubation chambers in which water was added. Over a period of several weeks, fruiting bodies appeared in these chambers which were morphologically analysed via AmScope stereomicroscope and molecular identification was carried out via ITS-1F and ITS-4R DNA sequencing methods. The obtained sequences after successful identification via BLAST analysis were submitted to the Genebank NCBI database. During the course of the study, a total of 20 species of different 14 families of wood-decay fungi were identified of which mycelium has been generated in incubation chambers. Among the identified wood-decay fungi, Phanerochaetaceae (03 species), Bionectriaceae (02 species), Hypocreaceae (02 species) and Chaetomiaceae (02 species) being the most frequent. Hence, the present study was the first one to report on the diversity of wood-decay fungi of Saudi Arabia and was successful in using incubation chambers to describe the specimens of wood-decay fungi associated with coarse wood debris.

Fire severity influences large wood and stream ecosystem responses in western Oregon watersheds

BackgroundWildfire is a landscape disturbance important for stream ecosystems and the recruitment of large wood (LW; LW describes wood in streams) into streams, with post-fire management also playing a role. We used a stratified random sample of 4th-order watersheds that represent a range of pre-fire stand age and fire severity from unburned to entirely burned watersheds to 1) determine whether watershed stand age (pre-fire) or fire severity affected riparian overstory survival, riparian coarse wood (CW; CW describes wood in riparian areas), LW, or in-stream physical, chemical, and biological responses; and 2) identify relationships of LW with riparian vegetation and in-stream physical, chemical, and biological factors.ResultsAt higher fire severities, LW and CW diameter was smaller, but volume did not change in the first year post-fire. Larger size of CW in riparian areas versus LW in streams suggests potential future recruitment of larger-diameter wood into streams from riparian zones in severely burned watersheds. Fire severity exerted strong control on stream responses across watersheds, explaining more of the variation than stand age. At higher fire severities, riparian tree mortality, salvage logging, light, dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations, and fish densities were higher, whereas canopy cover, LW diameter, macroinvertebrate diversity, and amphibian density were lower. In watersheds with older stand ages, elevation and mean annual precipitation were greater but mean annual temperature, specific ultra-violet absorption at 254 nm, and phosphorus concentrations were lower. Overstory mortality in burned riparian areas was lower for red alder (12%) than western redcedar (69%).ConclusionsOur results link forested streams, fire, and LW by identifying key relationships that change with fire severity and/or watershed stand age. Severe fires burn more overstory riparian vegetation, leading to increased light, DOM concentrations, and macroinvertebrate and fish densities, along with reduced canopy cover, LW diameter, macroinvertebrate diversity, and amphibian densities. We highlight an important function of red alder in riparian zones—as a fire-resistant species, it may help facilitate a more rapid recovery for streams in fire-prone landscapes. Continued comprehensive aquatic and riparian ecosystem monitoring of these watersheds will aid in understanding long-term effects of post-fire management activities (salvage logging) on aquatic ecosystems.

Coarse woody habitat use by local fish species and structural integrity of enhancements over time in a shallow northern boreal lake assessed in a Bayesian modelling approach

Abstract The introduction of coarse woody habitat has been a widely adopted management practice for restoring and enhancing freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Although responses of aquatic fish and invertebrate communities have largely been documented for lotic systems, benefits for lentic ecosystems have been mostly unevaluated. We tested the responses of fish populations to coarse woody habitat structures through a Bayesian modelling approach in a northern boreal lake in Alberta, Canada by enhancing a stretch of littoral zone with low structural complexity through introduction of coarse wood bundles and whole tree structures. The study site was split into three treatments, a Spaced treatment (structures 30 m apart), a Clustered treatment (structures 15 m apart) and an unaltered area (Control). Catch per unit effort and catch per unit area data were collected over 2 years and posterior model predictions showed an increase in habitat use of the enhanced areas by spottail shiner—Notropis hudsonius; northern pike—Esox lucius; white sucker—Catostomus commersonii; brook stickleback—Culaea inconstans. No probable effect on overall fish condition, measured in Relative Weight, was linked to the enhancements. Across the 2‐year study, wood bundles degraded faster compared to the whole tree drops, coinciding with levelling off catch per unit effort and catch per unit area predictions near wood bundles, although catch predictions increased near the whole tree structures. Structural degradation set in as early as 1 week post‐construction for wood bundles and was mostly related to anchoring aspects. Results from our study provide evidence for the benefits provided by coarse woody habitat within northern boreal lake systems. They furthermore highlight the short‐lived nature of wood bundles built with biodegradable substances. Methodologically our results offer evidence on the feasibility and utility of predictive modelling frameworks in addressing pseudoreplication and providing informative value for ecological studies.

Saproxylic Hymenoptera in dead wood retained on clear cuts, relation to wood parameters and their degree of specialisation

Intensive forestry is a threat to biodiversity, and therefore actions are made to mitigate this loss. The actions are, however, designed based on available knowledge about the requirements of species, and for saproxylic insects this concerns mainly Coleoptera, while the diverse but poorly known Hymenoptera has contributed less. In this paper we therefore asked whether the substrate requirements of Hymenoptera (divided as parasitoids and non-parasitoids) are similar to those of Coleoptera and Diptera. We used an insect material reared from logging residue wood for the comparison. Theoretically parasitoid Hymenoptera should be less specialised than Coleoptera and other host species as they belong to a higher trophic level. However, we found no such difference and even an opposite trend, that parasitoids were more specialised than beetles. Parasitoids had significantly more species in newly dead wood of fine diameter (1–4 cm, compared to coarse wood of 8–15 cm) compared to other groups. This is probably due to that many of them have bark beetles as hosts. The non-parasitoids were less specialised than the other groups and more confined to old wood (4–5 years), which is in line with that many of them are aculeate wasps building nests in emergence holes from other insects.Implications for insect conservationThe habitat requirements of Hymenoptera suggest that the conservation actions designed for the well known groups are also applicable for them. The parasitoids’ association to trivial substrates (fine wood) suggest a good supply of breeding habitat, whereas their high specialisation in combination with higher trophic level suggest they contain an even higher proportion of threatened species than Coleoptera. How this is traded off needs further studies.

Fomes fomentarius and F. inzengae-A Comparison of Their Decay Patterns on Beech Wood.

Wood-decaying fungi are responsible for the degradation of wood and the alteration in its material properties. Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr. is one of the most common white-rot fungi colonising coarse wood and standing trees. In recent years, according to their genetic, physiological, and morphological differences, Fomes inzengae (Ces. and De Not.) Lécuru was identified as an independent species. This article aimed to compare the impact of the degradation caused by both species on the anatomical, physical, and mechanical properties of beech wood. When comparing the degradation caused by different strains of both species, no statistically significant difference was found in mass loss (ML) or moisture content (MC). A relevant correlation between ML and MC was confirmed for both species. Variabilities in the density distribution of the degraded and intact bending samples were found to be statistically different. No relevant difference was observed in the modulus of rupture (MOR) between the two species after each exposure period. A strong linear relationship between the MOR and the dynamic modulus of elasticity was revealed for both species. Both species showed decay patterns typical for simultaneous white rot and soft rot. According to the presented results, the impact of both species on the investigated material properties of wood cannot be considered significantly different.

Quantitative Description and Classification of Growing Media Particle Morphology through Dynamic Image Analysis

The physical properties of growing media are dependent on the morphological characteristics of the particles composing them. Thus, their characteristics can be more precisely altered for specific purposes by a better morphological design of materials to optimize the use of raw materials and increase water efficiency. There are many references on the relationship between basic particle size and physical properties, but the arrangement of the particles and the resulting physical properties are also affected by the shape of the particles. Growing media have seldom been characterized by shape criteria and, therefore, their influence remains unknown. A dynamic image analyzer, the QicPic device, was used to assess particle shape and size for a wide diversity of growing media constituents. As well as FeretMAX and ChordMIN diameters describing individual particle length and width, respectively, individual particle shape was analyzed in terms of several descriptors (aspect ratio, circularity, roundness, and convexity). A classification was established to discern different particle shapes and all materials were described accordingly. Correlations between particle morphology descriptors were reported, showing that the greater the particle length, the smaller the width/length ratio, circularity, roundness, and convexity. Circularity, roundness, particle length, and its associated relative span were identified as the most relevant parameters describing materials’ morphology. This work shows a large diversity in particle morphology of growing media constituents, which were categorized into four classes of materials. Three classes were mainly described according to their particle shapes, with a decreasing elongation and an increasing circularity, roundness, and convexity: (1) fine and coarse wood and coir fibers; (2) all Sphagnum white peats, milled or sod; and (3) black peats, sedge peat, coir pith, fresh and composted pine bark, green waste compost, and perlite. A fourth class was represented by coir medium (mixing pith and fibers) and was above all characterized by high diversity in particle length. These findings extend the characterization of the materials for a more thorough evaluation of the links between particle morphology and physical properties.

Assessment of aboveground, belowground, and total biomass carbon storage potential of Bambusa vulgaris in a tropical moist forest in Ghana, West Africa

This article reports on a study conducted to assess the carbon storage potential of Bambusa vulgaris, the predominant bamboo species in Ghana. The study aimed to fill a knowledge gap on the potential of bamboo to sequester carbon for climate change mitigation in Ghana. Unlike previous studies that only focused on aboveground biomass, this study assessed belowground, litter, and coarse wood carbon pools. Allometric parameters and models were used to measure the aboveground biomass, while other carbon pools were directly measured. The results showed that the aboveground biomass of B. vulgaris had a carbon stock of 42.85 ± 9.32 Mg C ha−1, which was 73% of the total biomass carbon stock. The carbon stocks of belowground, coarse wood and litter were 8.57, 3.02, and 4.25 Mg C ha−1, respectively. The study also found that B. vulgaris had a high carbon dioxide sequestration potential of 215.39 Mg CO2e ha−1 compared to 147–275 Mg CO2e ha−1 for trees in general. The findings suggest that B. vulgaris could contribute to Ghana's transition to a low-carbon economy through carbon stock monitoring, reporting, and policy development to minimise the impact of climate change. Moreover, the inclusion of relevant carbon pools, including coarse wood and litter, in forest carbon estimates should be encouraged to provide a comprehensive understanding of the plant carbon cycle.

Alteration in Forest Soil Biogeochemistry through Coarse Wood Debris in Northeast China

Coarse woody debris (CWD) has a strong influence on nutrient dynamics and hinders its availability through fixation. The CWD decaying logs, with two states (three and four) impacting on carbon (C) capture, nutrient dynamics and enzymatic properties, were investigated under and away (50 cm) from the logs in three forest types, i.e., the Picea koraiensis-Abies nephrolepis-Pinus koraiensis forest (PAPF), Betula costata-Pinus koraiensis forest (BPF) and Tilia amurensis-Pinus koraiensis forest (TPF). The results showed that soil organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), soil pH, other soil nutrients and enzymatic activity were significantly affected by the forest types, decay class and distance from decaying logs in three forests. The CWD, with decay class IV under CWD, resulted in the optimum OC 64.7 mg g−1, N 6.9 mg g−1 and enzymatic activity in the PAPF forest, and the distance effect was negligible for all the forests. A lower soil pH value of 3.8 was observed at decay class IV in the soil collected from the immediate vicinity of the deadwood. CWD play a key role in decaying logs in forest ecosystems to enhance C and the nutrient budget with the improved enzymatic activity of the soil. It was concluded from this research that CWD is a critical factor in the nutrient cycling process of forest ecosystems that contributes functionally to the forest floor by inducing the spatial heterogeneity of enzymatic activity, C and nutrient turnover.