Carbon stores and fluxes in even- and uneven-aged Norway spruce stands

• Main Authors: Nilsen, Petter, Strand, Line
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Finnish Society of Forest Science 2013-01-01
• Series: Silva Fennica
• Online Access: https://www.silvafennica.fi/article/1024

This investigation compares present C stores, fluxes and historic tree C sequestration in an uneven-aged and an even-aged Norway spruce stand under similar high productive soil conditions in south-eastern Norway. A selection cutting system has been performed in the uneven-aged forest stand for 81 years and the even-aged stand was established after clear-cutting 81 years ago. Timber productivity has been measured in the uneven stand for 81 years and in the even-aged stand for 52 years. C storage was determined based on tree measurements, tree biomass functions, soil samples and C analyses from trees and soil. Litter fall was sampled during one year and CO efflux from the soil was measured during one growing season. The present tree C storage (including roots) was 210 Mg C ha in the even-aged stand and 76 Mg C ha in the uneven-aged stand, while the corresponding figures for C in the soil was 178 and 199 Mg C ha. The long term timber production in the uneven-aged stand was measured to be 95% of the even-aged stand and the difference in net C sequestration was 37 Mg ha in an 81 year period in favour the even-aged stand. The highest present CO efflux from soil was measured in the even-aged stand. The total net C sequestered in trees during 81 years minus the present soil C-stock accounts to 16 Mg ha in favour the even-aged system2-1-1-1-12-1