Effects of forest residue harvesting on short-term changes in soil solution chemistry

Short-term (three to four years) effects of forest harvesting on soil solution chemistry were investigated at two Norway spruce sites in southern Norway, differing in precipitation amount and topography. Experimental plots were either harvested conventionally (stem-only harvesting, SOH) or whole trees, including crowns, twigs and branches were removed (whole-tree harvesting, WTH), leaving residue piles on the ground for some months before removal. The WTH treatment had two sub-treatments: WTH-pile where there had been piles and WTH-removal, from where residues had been removed to make piles. Increased soil solution concentrations of NO₃–N, total N, Ca, Mg and K at 30?cm depth, shown by peaks in concentrations in the years after harvesting, were found at the drier, less steep site in eastern Norway after SOH and WTH-pile, but less so after WTH-removal. At the wetter, steeper site in western Norway, peaks were often observed also at WTH-removal plots, which might reflect within-site differences in water pathways due largely to site topography.     

Estimation of nutrient removals in stem-only and whole-tree harvesting of Scots pine, Norway spruce, and birch stands with generalized nutrient equations

Whole-tree harvesting (WTH), where logging residues are removed in addition to stems, is widely practised in Fennoscandian boreal forests. WTH increases the export of nutrients from forest ecosystems. The extent of nutrient removals may depend on tree species, harvesting method, and the intensity of harvesting. We developed generalized nutrient equations for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies Karsten), and birch (Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh.) stands to be able to calculate the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium in stems and above-ground biomass (stem and crown) as a function of stand volume. The equations were based on Fennoscandian literature data from 34 pine, 26 spruce, and 5 birch stands, and they explained, depending on the tree species and nutrient, 61–99% and 56–87% of the variation in the nutrient amounts of stems and above-ground biomass, respectively. The calculations based on the equations showed that nutrient removals caused by stem-only harvesting (SOH) and WTH per harvested stem m³ were smaller in pine than in spruce and birch stands. If the same volume of stem is harvested, nutrient removals are, in general, nearly equal at thinnings and final cuttings in SOH, but larger in thinnings than final cuttings in WTH. If the principal aim is to minimize the nutrient removals per harvested stem m³, the harvesting should be done at mature pine stands. The effect of biomass removal on overall site nutrient status depends on site-specific factors such as atmospheric deposition, weathering of minerals, and the size of the nutrient pools in the soil.     

Harvesting of logging residues affects diameter growth and pine weevil attacks on Norway spruce seedlings

Removal of logging residues causes significant nutrient losses from the harvesting site. Furthermore, collection of residues into piles could lead to small-scale differences in establishment conditions for seedlings. We studied the effects of stem-only (SOH) and aboveground whole-tree harvesting (WTH) on Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedling growth and pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) damage at two sites (SE and W Norway). We also compared two planting environments within the WTH plots (WTH-0: areas with no residues, WTH-1: areas where residue piles had been placed and removed before planting). In practice, one-third of the residues were left on site after WTH. After three growing seasons there were no differences for height or diameter increment between SOH and WTH (WTH-1 and WTH-0 combined) treatments. However, relative diameter increment was largest for WTH-1 seedlings and lowest for WTH-0 seedlings. Few seedlings sustained pine weevil attacks at the W Norway site, with no differences among treatments. At the SE Norway site, the percent of seedlings damaged by pine weevils and average debarked area were significantly higher after WTH (82% and 3.3?cm²) compared to SOH (62% and 1.7?cm²). We conclude that WTH may lead to spatial differences in establishment conditions.     

Intensified forestry as a climate mitigation measure alters surface water quality in low intensity managed forests

ABSTRACT

Climate change has led to a focus on forest management techniques to increase carbon (C) sequestration as a mitigation measure. Fertilisation and increased removal of biomass have been proposed. But these and other forest practices may have undesirable effects on surface water quality. In naturally acid-sensitive areas such as much of Fennoscandia a concern is acidification due to acid deposition in combination with forest practices that increase the removal of base cations and leaching of nitrate (NO₃). Here we apply the biogeochemical model MAGIC to the coniferous-forested catchment at Birkenes, southernmost Norway, to simulate the effects of forest fertilisation and harvest on soil and streamwater. The model was calibrated to the 40-year data for water quality, soil and vegetation and then used to simulate fertilisation and clearcutting of the mature forest by either conventional stem-only harvest (SOH) or whole-tree harvest (WTH). The 5 – 10-year pulse of NO₃ following clearcut was larger with SOH than WTH. WTH causes larger acidification of surface water relative to SOH, due to greater depletion of base cations, N and C from the soil. The use of forestry as a climate mitigation measure should take into consideration the potential effects on soil and surface water quality.     

Is the productivity decline in Norway spruce following whole-tree harvesting in the final felling in boreal Sweden permanent or temporary?

The growing demand for renewable energy sources in Sweden has resulted in an increased use of forest biomass that now includes logging residues. However, concern has been raised that the moderate increase in biomass removal associated with whole-tree harvesting results in a significant increase in nutrient removal, which in turn has a negative effect on future forest growth. Productivity over 31 years in planted Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) in northern Sweden following three different harvest intensities is reported from a field experiment with exceptionally large growth reductions following whole-tree harvest. The three harvest intensities were applied in a randomized block design with four blocks: (i) conventional stem-wood harvest up to a top diameter of 5 cm (CH); (ii) whole-tree harvest of all above-stump biomass (WTH); (iii) branch and stem harvest with needles left on site (BSH). Recovery rate of biomass was almost 100% and the logging residues left were evenly spread over the 25- by 25-m experimental plots. Stand growth was negatively affected by WTH: basal area after 31 years was significantly lower following WTH (10.5 m² ha⁻¹) as compared to CH (14.0 m² ha⁻¹, p = 0.005) and BSH (14.2 m² ha⁻¹p = 0.003). Annual height growth of a sub-sample of trees (10 undamaged trees per plot, or 40 per treatment) was used to estimate and compare long-term effects on site productivity. This showed that stand growth loss resulted from a significant but temporary reduction in site productivity on WTH plots over a 5-year period (years 8-12, 1984-1988). Nitrogen is the major growth-limiting nutrient in boreal Swedish forests, and the N-content of needles during that period suggests that the temporal reduction in site productivity (i.e., stand growth) was primarily due to increased nitrogen loss with WTH.     

Replacement of wildfire by whole-tree harvesting in jack pine forests: Effects on soil fertility and tree nutrition

Large areas of northern coniferous forests once naturally maintained by stand-replacing wildfires have shifted to an anthropogenic disturbance regime of clearcut harvesting followed by natural or artificial regeneration, with unknown consequences for soil biogeochemical processes. We used a comparative approach to investigate the effects of whole-tree harvesting (WTH) vs. stand-replacing wildfire (WF) on soil C and nutrient availability, and nutrition and growth of the succeeding stand, in jack pine (Pinus banksiana) forests of northern Lower Michigan. We compared total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), potential N mineralization, and extractable phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) among stands regenerated via WTH or WF in two age classes (4–7 years and 12–18 years). We also measured jack pine foliar nutrition and height growth in these same stands, as well as estimating the contribution of legacy dead wood to ecosystem nutrient capital in young stands. We found some evidence in support of our hypothesis that WTH would leave behind greater pools of soil C and N, but lower pools of P and base cations. However, the differences we observed were confined entirely to surface organic horizons, with the two disturbance regimes indistinguishable when viewed cumulatively to our maximum sampling depth of 30 cm. Estimates of nutrient pools in legacy wood inherited by young jack pine stands were also small in comparison to total soil pools (ranging from 1 to 9% depending on the element), suggesting that decomposition and nutrient release from this material is not likely to result in noticeable differences in soil fertility later in stand development. Similar levels of soil nutrients between WTH- and WF-origin stands were reflected in our measures of jack pine foliar nutrition and height growth, which were both unaffected by mode of stand origin. Results from this study suggest that soil nutrient levels following WTH fall within the natural range of variation produced by WF in these jack pine forests; however, comparison with a similar study on boreal jack pine suggests that latitudinal effects on O-horizon nutrient capital may influence the degree to which WTH matches the effects of WF on soil nutrient availability.     

Evaluation through a simulation model of nutrient exports in fast-growing southern European pine stands in relation to thinning intensity and harvesting operations

The effects on nutrient exports of a range of thinning regimes for maritime pine and radiata pine plantations in northern Spain were simulated in this study. Growth models, tree biomass equations and nutrient concentration in tree fractions were used simultaneously to calculate the amounts of N, P, K, Ca and Mg removed and left in the logging residues for five thinning intensities, five site indexes and four harvesting scenarios for each species, considering the whole rotation. A more intense thinning regime decreases the total amount of nutrients exported and increases the proportion of nutrients returned to the soil before the clearfell, being a more progressive system of extracting nutrients from the ecosystem. A substantial amount of nutrients are located in the crown fractions and the bark, making desirable the harvesting of debarked logs. The results allow the calculation of fertilization needs to avoid the depletion of soil nutrient capital in a variety of silvicultural situations.     

Whole tree harvesting can reduce second rotation forest productivity

The practice of harvesting forest residues is rapidly increasing due to rising demand for renewable energy. However, major concerns have been raised about the sustainability of this practice and its net impact on productivity, in particular through negative effects on the growth of subsequent tree crops. We measured height, diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree spacing density on 23-year-old second rotation stands of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), following whole tree harvesting (WTH—of all above ground biomass, by cable crane) or conventional stem-only harvesting (CH) of the first rotation crop. Overall, WTH reduced tree DBH by 10.3% (p = 0.017), with weaker evidence that it may have reduced height (by 8.2%, p = 0.164) and stand basal area (by 15.3%, p = 0.101). However, treatment effects differed greatly between individual blocks and, analysed separately by block, significant differences (WTH plot trees smaller than CH plot trees) were most notable in the two more exposed south-facing blocks (where, in both cases, p < 0.01 for height and p < 0.05 for basal area). Variation in productivity between the experimental plots cannot simply be attributed to preharvesting site environment – no correlation was found between first rotation and second rotation productivity – nor was treatment effect explained by differences in tree spacing density. Treatment effects can be attributed to the removal of three to four times larger quantities of N, P and K in the tree biomass by WTH than by CH of the first rotation crop, combined with greater competition with tree natural regeneration and other vegetation in WTH plots during the early stages of the second rotation. Soil moisture was higher in WTH plots but there was no evidence that WTH increased soil acidity or aluminium mobility nor that it decreased soil organic matter. The results also highlight the complexities of predicting the effect of harvesting treatment on future productivity, even within single-age, single-species forests. The study demonstrates the risk that WTH can reduce second rotation productivity of conifer forests in acidic upland sites, and that this practice will only be sustainable with appropriate interventions to overcome shortage of nutrients and high levels of vegetation competition.     

Mechanized thinning of walnut plantations established on ex-arable land

The study compares two product strategies—chips versus firewood—and two technological levels—manual versus mechanized—as applied to the thinning of walnut agroforestry plantations, established on ex-arable land. Such plantations are widespread all across Europe, and their establishment was subsidized under the provisions of EU Directive 2080/90, and of regional grant schemes. Field test data were used to build a simple deterministic model for estimating thinning productivity and cost under varying work and economic conditions. This model can assist prospective users when checking the profitability of an operation, or when assessing the competitiveness of alternative options. Removing nurse alder from young walnut plantations yields between 25 and 50 t of fresh biomass per hectare and is crucial to the good development of the stand. The study shows that the removal of nurse alder from walnut plantations is economically viable, and it can also offer some profits if stand and market conditions are favourable. As a rule, the average DBH of removal trees should not be smaller than 12 cm. Best results are obtained with mechanized harvesting, which does not seem to cause heavier stand and soil damage than manual harvesting. Manual harvesting is preferable only if the annual utilization of machinery is very low, and in this case it should be geared to firewood production. The manual whole-tree harvesting (WTH) method used in this study offers the lowest performance under all conditions, and should be replaced with some other manual alternative to WTH. Mechanized WTH offers a significant cost reduction over mechanized short-wood (SWS) harvesting, but this difference is still rather limited: hence, other parameters come into play when deciding what system to apply, and namely product price and mass output. In this respect, one also has to consider the cost of managing the harvesting residue, and that of fertilizing, if soil nutrient depletion is to be feared.     

京北山区人工刺槐水源涵养林主要养分元素含量特征分析

北京北部山区刺槐水源涵养林生态系统的总生物量(包括乔木层、灌木层、草本层和枯落物层)为26 301kg/hm2。刺槐林不同器官中各养分元素的含量差异较大,在叶和枝中各养分元素的含量顺序相同,均是Ca>N>K>Mg>P;在干中的含量顺序是N>Ca>Mg>K>P;根系中的养分元素除Ca随着根系直径的增加呈升高的趋势外,其余的养分元素的含量随着根系直径的增加而降低。刺槐林生态系统5种养分元素的贮存量为514.90 kg/hm2,其中,乔木层中的养分贮存量占总贮存量的85.5%。若以各养分元素在生态系统生物层中的贮存量来计,则Ca的贮存量最大,P的最小,不同养分元素贮存量的顺序为Ca>N>K>Mg>P。     

Nutrient losses after clearfelling in Beddgelert Forest: a comparison of the effects of conventional and whole-tree harvest on soil water chemistry

The effects of conventional, bole only harvesting (CH) and whole-treeharvesting (WTH) on major inorganic nutrient concentrations(K, NO₃-N, NH₄-N, PO₄-P and Ca) in soil water are describedfrom Beddgelert forest in North Wales. Monitoring of nutrientleaching losses, and the timing thereof, from brash throughthe soil and into streams draining the CH areas allowed assessmentsto be made of the value of brash as a nutrient source for secondrotation crops. Most of the K (around 100 kg ha^–1) and one-third of theP (10 out of 30 kg ha^–1) leached out of the brash lyingon the CH plots within one year of felling. A pulse of K passedthrough the soil profile, but less than half this K reachedthe streams. In contrast, the P was immobilized in the soil.The lack of brash resulted in the absence of K and P pulseson the WTH plots. On the CH plots, brash was a net sink forinorganic-N for 3 years after felling. However, in both CH andWTH, a pulse of nitrate was observed in the soil and also instreams draining CH areas. The source of this nitrate may havebeen death of fine tree roots, followed by rapid mineralizationand nitrification. Calculation of a nutrient budget for a complete crop rotationindicates that P and Ca losses in harvested material are likelyto result in long-term depletion of these elements, and thatthe effects will be significantly more severe if WTH is practised.     

Effects of harvest management practices on forest biomass and soil carbon in eucalypt forests in New South Wales,Australia: Simulations with the forest succession model LINKAGES

Understanding long-term changes in forest ecosystem carbon stocks under forest management practices such as timber harvesting is important for assessing the contribution of forests to the global carbon cycle. Harvesting effects are complicated by the amount, type, and condition of residue left on-site, the decomposition rate of this residue, the incorporation of residue into soil organic matter and the rate of new detritus input to the forest floor from regrowing vegetation. In an attempt to address these complexities, the forest succession model LINKAGES was used to assess the production of aboveground biomass, detritus, and soil carbon stocks in native Eucalyptus forests as influenced by five harvest management practices in New South Wales, Australia. The original decomposition sub-routines of LINKAGES were modified by adding components of the Rothamsted (RothC) soil organic matter turnover model. Simulation results using the new model were compared to data from long-term forest inventory plots. Good agreement was observed between simulated and measured above-ground biomass, but mixed results were obtained for basal area. Harvesting operations examined included removing trees for quota sawlogs (QSL, DBH >80 cm), integrated sawlogs (ISL, DBH >20 cm) and whole-tree harvesting in integrated sawlogs (WTH). We also examined the impact of different cutting cycles (20, 50 or 80 years) and intensities (removing 20, 50 or 80 m³). Generally medium and high intensities of shorter cutting cycles in sawlog harvesting systems produced considerably higher soil carbon values compared to no harvesting. On average, soil carbon was 2–9% lower in whole-tree harvest simulations whereas in sawlog harvest simulations soil carbon was 5–17% higher than in no harvesting.     

Short- and long-term responses of total soil organic carbon to harvesting in a northern hardwood forest

The long-term response of total soil organic carbon pools (‘total SOC’, i.e. soil and dead wood) to different harvesting scenarios in even-aged northern hardwood forest stands was evaluated using two soil carbon models, CENTURY and YASSO, that were calibrated with forest plot empirical data in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Overall, 13 different harvesting scenarios that included four levels of aboveground biomass removal (20%, 40%, 60% and 90%) and four different rotation lengths (60 year, 90 year, 120 year, and No Rotation (NR)) were simulated for a 360 year period. Simulations indicate that following an initial post-harvest increase, total SOC decreases for several decades until carbon inputs into the soil pool from the re-growth are greater than losses due to decomposition. At this point total SOC begins to gradually increase until the next harvest. One consequence of this recovery pattern is that between harvests, the size of the SOC pool in a stand may change from −7 to 18% of the pre-harvest pool, depending on the soil pool considered. Over 360 years, the average annual decrease in total SOC depends on the amount of biomass removed, the rotation length, and the soil pool considered. After 360 years a stand undergoing the 90yr-40% scenario will have 15% less total SOC than a non-harvested stand. Long-term declines in total SOC greater than 10% were observed in the 60yr-60%, 60yr-90%, and 90yr-90% scenarios. Long-term declines less than 5% were observed in scenarios with 120 year rotations that remove 60% or less of the aboveground biomass. The long-term decreases simulated here for common management scenarios in this region would require intensive sampling procedures to be detectable.     

The combined effects of thinning and prescribed fire on carbon and nutrient budgets in a Jeffrey pine forest

? Both burning and harvesting cause carbon and nutrient removals from forest ecosystems, but few studies have addressed the combination of these effects. For a Pinus jeffreyii forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, we posed the question: what are the relative impacts of thinning and subsequent burning on carbon and nutrient removals?

? The thinning methods included whole-tree thinning (WT, where all aboveground biomass was removed) cut to length (CTL, where branches and foliage were left on site in a slash mat on top of skid trails) and no harvest (CONT). Total C and nutrient exports with thinning and burning were greater in the WT and CTL than in the CONT treatments. Total C and N removals were approximately equal for the WT and CTL treatments, although harvesting dominated exports in the WT treatment and burning dominated exports in the CTL treatment. Total removals of P, K, Ca, Mg and S were greatest in the WT treatments, where harvesting dominated removals.

? Comparisons of nutrient removals with ecosystem capital and calculations of potential replenishment by atmospheric deposition suggested that N is the nutrient likely to be most depleted by harvesting and burning treatments.

     

Long-term sustainability of forest ecosystems on sandstone in the Vosges Mountains (France) facing atmospheric deposition and silvicultural change

Since the 1980s, atmospheric deposition acidity has generally decreased in European forest ecosystems. However, at many sites, little or no sign of recovery has been observed yet. Concerns are rising about the sustainability of these ecosystems because of reduced nutrients inputs in atmospheric deposition and the increase in biomass harvesting to supply bio-energy.We used a silver fir plot of the French monitoring network (RENECOFOR, site SP57) typical of the ecosystems on sandstone in the Vosges Mountains, to investigate its functioning and its response facing past and possible future changes. We (1) calculated 12-year-mean “input-output” nutrient budgets, (2) measured the change in soil exchangeable cations and anions, (3) used monitoring data to calibrate a process oriented biogeochemical model, NuCM, that was then used to (4) simulate the consequences of two main scenarios and their combinations: constant or reduced atmospheric deposition, and traditional or whole-tree harvesting.Mean term changes in exchangeable nutrients and input-output budgets showed a loss of exchangeable sulphate and base cations, the level of which depended on the method. This combined efflux induced an acidification of soil solution and an alkalinisation of the soil. The model NuCM was successfully calibrated and scenarios were implemented. A slight recovery was simulated when deposition was maintained constant but combined acid and nutrient atmospheric deposition reduction delayed recovery. Whole-tree harvesting drastically decreased soil fertility compared to traditional silviculture. Hence, biomass harvesting in forests on poor soils may counter recovery in the future.     

Comparison of two harvesting systems for the production of forest biomass from the thinning of Picea abies plantations

Abstract

This study compares two principally different harvesting systems used for the thinning of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] plantations in the Alps. The first system was whole-tree harvesting (WTH), producing only whole-tree chips for energy purposes. This system minimizes the production costs by simplifying the harvesting process. The other system was cut-to-length (CTL) mechanical harvesting with an excavator-based harvester. This system maximizes value recovery by producing both short sawlogs and quality fuel chips. Trials were conducted on two similar sites in the Dolomites, in northern Italy, and demonstrated that the CTL system resulted in slightly higher harvesting costs, and also higher revenue. The price differences between the different products determine which system offers the best economic results. If the delivered price of sawlogs does not exceed [euro]25 t^?1, WTH and CTL harvesting offer very similar economic performances, and become profitable only if the delivered price of raw chip wood exceeds [euro]40 t^?1. If the delivered price of sawlogs increases to [euro]50 t^?1, the mechanized CTL system always becomes preferable, and it will turn some profits when the price of raw biomass exceeds [euro]35 t^?1. The CTL system is less sensitive to long extraction and transport distances than the WTH system.     

Amount of nutrients extracted and left behind at a clear-felled area using the fresh-stacked and dried-stacked methods of logging residue extraction

Nutrient removal has been one of the key issues since the harvesting of logging residues started in Sweden. This study examined the actual removal of nutrients by measuring the amounts of biomass removed (from a forest products perspective) combined with their respective nutrient concentrations (N, P, Ca, K and Mg), from a clear-felled area when using the dried-stacked and fresh-stacked methods. The most important finding is that the two methods were very similar regarding nutrients remaining at the clear-felled area. Of the nutrients remaining there, most were found to be well distributed between the harvester heaps. Both methods fulfilled the requirements of the Swedish Forest Agency. A sensitivity analysis showed that even if the dried-stacked method left more needles, or the fresh-stacked method extracted more logging residues, there would only be a small impact on the levels of nutrients removed. The sensitivity analysis also showed that the amount of logging residues remaining between the harvester heaps seems to be much more important for nutrients left behind, regardless of extraction method. With this in mind, it is highly probable that improvements to the extraction of logging residues, without increasing nutrient removal, can be made.     

Export of Nutrients in Plant Biomass Following Harvest of Eucalypt Plantations in Kerala,India

Abstract

Pools of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were examined in the soil and above-ground plant biomass at the end of a 7 year rotation at two E. tereticornis lowland sites and two E. grandis highland sites in Kerala, India. Potential export rates of these nutrients were also examined for different biomass removal scenarios from the plantations. Pools of nutrients were measured in the above-ground components of the tree crop, forest floor and understorey, and in soil down to 1 m depth. At harvest, large quantities of biomass and nutrients are removed from eucalypt plantation sites, with the quantities of nutrients exported unlikely to be replaced through natural atmospheric and weathering inputs. Between 24 Mg ha^-1 and 115 Mg ha^-1 of biomass was exported in stem wood across the sites, and this increased to 40-145 Mg ha^-1 in scenarios where all of the branches, bark and understorey were also exported. Stem wood had the lowest concentration of nutrients and had a relatively low export of nutrient per kg of biomass. On average, 54 kg, 12 kg and 65 kg of N, P and K were removed per hectare in stem wood only, equivalent to 0.46%, 0.17%, and 6.7%, respectively, of above- and below-ground (to 1 m depth) site pools. Export increased to 194 kg, 30 kg, and 220 kg of N, P and K per hectare if the branches, bark and understorey were also removed (equivalent to 1.6%, 0.5% and 24.7% of above- and below-ground site pools down to 1 m depth). Export of Ca and Mg was also high, with an average of 88 kg and 11 kg of Ca and Mg removed per hectare if only the stem wood was taken (3.12% and 1.34% of total above-ground and exchangeable below-ground to 1 m depth), increasing to 501 kg ha^-1 and 66 kg ha^-1 if the branches, bark and understorey were also removed (21.7% and 11.3% of total above-ground and available below-ground to 1 m depth). Removals of this magnitude represent a significant proportion of site nutrient pools and have the potential to reduce future plantation productivity unless steps are taken to promote retention of biomass and nutrients on site and/or replacement of nutrients through fertilizer application.     

Transfer characteristics of nutrient elements through hydrological process of a Pinus tabulaeformis stand in the West Mountain of Beijing

Forest precipitation chemistry is a major issue in forest hydrology and forest ecology. Chemical contents in precipitation change significantly when different kinds of external chemical materials are added, removed, translocated and transformed to or in the forest ecosystem along with precipitation. The chemistry of precipitation was monitored and analyzed in a 31-year-old Pinus tabulaeformis forest in the West Mountain of Beijing. Movement patterns of nutrient elements in hydrological processes can be discovered by studying this monitored data. Also, the information is useful for diagnosing the function of ecosystems and evaluating the impact of the environment on the ecosystem. Samples of rainfall, throughfall and stemflow were collected on the site. In the lab, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were analyzed by flame atomic absorption and K⁺ and Na⁺ by flame emission. NH₄ ⁺-N was analyzed by indophenol blue colorimetry and NO₃ ⁻-N was analyzed by phenoldisulfonic acid colorimetry. The results showed that: 1) The concentration gradient of nutrient elements clearly changed except for Na⁺. The nutrients in stemflow were significantly higher than those of throughfall and rainfall as the precipitation passed through the P. tabulaeformis forest. The monthly patterns showed distinct differentiation. There are indications that a large amount of nutrients was leached from the canopy, which is a critical function of intra-ecosystem nutrient cycling to improve the efficiency of nutrient use. 2) The concentrations of NO₃ ⁻-N and K⁺ changed more than those of the other nutrient elements. The concentration of NO₃ ⁻-N in throughfall and stemflow was 4.4 times and 9.9 times higher than those in rainfall, respectively. The concentration of K⁺ in throughfall and stemflow was 4.1 times and 8.1 times higher than those in rainfall, respectively. 3) The leaching of nutrient elements from the stand was an important aspect of nutrient return to the P. tabulaeformis forest, which returned a total amount of nutrient of 54.1 kg/hm², with the contribution of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ much greater than that of other elements. Also, K⁺ was the most active element in leaching intensity. 4) Nutrient input through precipitation was the main source in the West Mountain of Beijing and the amount of nutrient added was 66.4 kg/hm², of which Ca²⁺ and N contributed much more than the other nutrient elements. When precipitation passes through the P. tabulaeformis forest, 121 kg/hm² of nutrient is added to the forest floor. Ca²⁺ recorded the greatest nutrient increase, with 61.2 kg/hm², followed by N (NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ⁻-N), K⁺ and Mg²⁺, with 31.3 and 16.5, and 8.11 kg/hm², respectively. The least was Na⁺, 3.34 kg/hm². Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2006, 26(7): 2,101–2,107 [译自: 生态学报]     

Cost structure of and competition for forest-based biomass

Abstract

Biomass has become a popular alternative to satisfy expanding energy demand and as a substitute for fossil fuels and phased-out nuclear energy in Europe. The European Union White Paper stipulates that the utilization of biomass shall increase to 1566 TWh by 2010. However it is often overlooked that the forest resources are already, to a large extent, used by the forest industries. When promoting biomass for energy generation the consequences for the forest industries also need to be considered. Sweden is an excellent case study, as there are vast quantities of forest resources, nuclear power is starting to be phased out, there are restrictions on expanding hydropower and the political desire exists to “set an example” with respect to carbon dioxide emissions. This paper attempts to estimate and analyse the supply of two types of forest resource, namely, roundwood and harvesting residues derived from final harvesting and commercial thinnings. Two separate supply curves are estimated: one for roundwood and one for harvesting residues. The cost structure is based on an economic-engineering approach where the separate cost components are constructed from the lowest cost element into aggregates for labour, capital, materials and overhead costs for each forest resource. The results indicate an unutilized economic supply of 12 TWh of harvesting residues in Sweden. However, after these 12 TWh have been recovered it becomes more profitable to use roundwood for energy purposes than to continue extracting further amounts of harvesting residues.