Summary
Published in Forests 4: 1141-1157 https://doi.org/10.3390/f4041141
The objective of this study was to compare organic carbon (C) accumulation in plantations (PL) and natural succession (NS) established on fallow lands along a 50-year chronosequence in the eastern mixed forest subzone of Quebec (Canada). Above- and below-ground woody biomass were estimated from vegetation measurement surveys, and litter and soil (0–50 cm depth) C from samplings. At the year of abandonment, total C content of both PL and NS sites averaged 100 ± 13 Mg C ha−1. Over 50 years, total C content doubled on NS sites and tripled on PL sites (217.9 ± 28.7 vs. 285.7 ± 31.0 Mg ha−1) with respect to fallow land. On NS sites, the new C stocks accumulated entirely in the vegetation. On PL sites, C accumulated mostly in the vegetation and to a lesser extent in the litter, whereas it decreased by a third in the soil. As a result, the net C accumulation rate was 1.7 ± 0.7 Mg ha−1 yr−1 greater on PL sites than on NS sites over 50 years. By the 23rd year, PL sites became greater net C sinks than NS sites in the fallow lands of the study area, even with the loss of soil C.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Ecosystems and Environment, Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
TREMBLAY, Sylvie and Rock OUIMET
Year of publication :
2013
Format :
PDF available upon request
How to get the publication :
Available at the Direction de la Recherche Forestière
ISSN
1999-4907
Keywords :
accumulation du carbone forestier, boisement, épinette blanche, succession naturelle, terre agricole abandonnée, Picea glauca, plantations, écosystèmes et environnement, ecosystems and environment, forest carbon sequestration, afforestation, white spruce, natural succession, abandoned agricultural land
