Past,present and future land-use in Xishuangbanna,China and the implications for carbon dynamics

Land use/land cover change is an important driver of global change and changes in carbon stocks. Estimating the changes in carbon stocks due to tropical deforestation has been difficult, mainly because of uncertainties in estimating deforestation rates and the biomass in the forest that have been cut. In this study, we combined detailed land-use change over a 27-year period based on satellite images and forest inventory data to estimate changes in biomass carbon stocks in the Xishuangbanna prefecture (1.9 million ha) of China. Xishuangbanna is located in southwestern China in the upper watershed of the Mekong River, and the major forest types are tropical seasonal rain forest, mountain rain forest, and subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest. In the past when the region was completely forested the total biomass carbon would have been approximately 212.65 ± 8.75 Tg C. By 1976 forest cover had been reduced to 70%, and in addition many forests had been degraded resulting in a large decrease in the total biomass carbon stocks (86.97 ± 3.70 Tg C). From 1976 to 2003, the mean deforestation rate was 13 722 ha year⁻¹ (1.12%), and this resulted in the loss of 370,494 ha of forest, and by 2003 total biomass carbon stocks had been reduced to 80.85 ± 2.64 Tg C. The annual carbon emissions due to land-use change, mainly forest conversion to agriculture and rubber plantations, were 0.37 ± 0.03 Tg C year⁻¹ between 1976 and 1988 and 0.13 ± 0.04 Tg C year⁻¹ between 1988 and 2003. During the next 20 years, if rubber plantations expand into forests outside of reserves, shrublands, grasslands, and shifting cultivation below 1500 m the total biomass carbon stocks of Xishuangbanna will decrease to 76.45 ± 1.49 Tg C in 2023. This would reflect a loss of 4.13 ± 1.14 Tg C between 2003 and 2023, or an annual loss of 0.21 ± 0.06 Tg C year⁻¹. Alternatively, if rubber plantations only expand into areas of shifting cultivation below 1500 m, and all areas presently in shrublands and grasslands are allowed to recover into secondary forests, total biomass carbon stock of the region would increase to 92.65 ± 3.80 Tg C in 2023. Under this scenario, the growth of existing forests and the expansion of new forests would result in a net sequestration of 0.60 ± 0.06 Tg C year⁻¹. This study demonstrates that the uncertainty of biomass estimates can be greatly reduced if detailed land-use analyses are combined with forest inventory data, and that slight changes in future land-use practices can have large implications for carbon fluxes.     

毛竹混交林群落生物量结构比较

在福建泰宁县大田乡选择4种不同经营模式的毛竹林分,即模式A为毛竹阔叶树混交林(树冠投影比5∶5)、模式B为毛竹阔叶树混交林(树冠投影比8∶2)、模式C为毛竹纯林、模式D为毛竹杉木混交林,分析比较不同模式的毛竹林分生物量结构,结果表明:不同模式林分的毛竹胸径、竹高等生长因子差异显著,阔叶混交林的毛竹平均单株生物量、胸径和竹高值较高;毛竹单株器官生物量以竹秆所占比例最大,达46.81%～54.27%,其中以模式B的最高;毛竹单株总生物量最大的为模式A,达34.98 kg/株;毛竹群落总生物量最大的为模式D,达139.42 t/hm2。     

Effect of tree species on carbon stocks in forest floor and mineral soil and implications for soil carbon inventories

Forest soil organic carbon (SOC) and forest floor carbon (FFC) stocks are highly variable. The sampling effort required to assess SOC and FFC stocks is therefore large, resulting in limited sampling and poor estimates of the size, spatial distribution, and changes in SOC and FFC stocks in many countries. Forest SOC and FFC stocks are influenced by tree species. Therefore, quantification of the effect of tree species on carbon stocks combined with spatial information on tree species distribution could improve insight into the spatial distribution of forest carbon stocks.We present a study on the effect of tree species on FFC and SOC stock for a forest in the Netherlands and evaluate how this information could be used for inventory improvement. We assessed FFC and SOC stocks in stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), oak (Quercus robur) and larch (Larix kaempferi).FFC and SOC stocks differed between a number of species. FFC stocks varied between 11.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ (beech) and 29.6 Mg C ha⁻¹ (larch). SOC stocks varied between 53.3 Mg C ha⁻¹ (beech) and 97.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ (larch). At managed locations, carbon stocks were lower than at unmanaged locations. The Dutch carbon inventory currently overestimates FFC stocks. Differences in carbon stocks between conifer and broadleaf forests were significant enough to consider them relevant for the Dutch system for carbon inventory.     

中国竹类植物植硅体碳研究

植硅体碳（Phyt OC）作为陆地生态系统中重要的碳汇来源,由于其稳定性强、不易分解等特点,成为当今全球生物固定CO₂的重要手段。植硅体碳的稳定性对全球陆地土壤碳库贡献比植硅体碳储量要大得多。文中综述了中国竹林生态系统植硅体碳的研究成果与进展。研究发现,不同竹种植硅体碳的含量差异较大,同一竹种不同器官的植硅体碳储量也存在差异,在竹林土壤中植硅体碳的分布呈现出随土壤深度的增加而减少的变化趋势。中国竹林分布面积广,竹种类型多样,竹资源丰富,今后应加强对不同竹种间植硅体碳的研究,特别是进一步提高竹林生态系统中植硅体碳储量的措施,结合当下经济、社会等因素,更加突出植硅体碳带来的经济和社会效益。     

Dynamics of forest biomass carbon stocks from 1949 to 2008 in Henan Province,east-central China

We estimated forest biomass carbon storage and carbon density from 1949 to 2008 based on nine consecutive forest inventories in Henan Province,China.According to the definitions of the forest inventory,Henan forests were categorized into five groups: forest stands,economic forests,bamboo forests,open forests,and shrub forests.We estimated biomass carbon in forest stands for each inventory period by using the continuous biomass expansion factor method.We used the mean biomass density method to estimate carbon stocks in economic,bamboo,open and shrub forests.Over the 60-year period,total forest vegetation carbon storage increased from34.6 Tg(1 Tg = 1×10~(12)g) in 1949 to 80.4 Tg in 2008,a net vegetation carbon increase of 45.8 Tg.By stand type,increases were 39.8 Tg in forest stands,5.5 Tg in economic forests,0.6 Tg in bamboo forests,and-0.1 Tg in open forests combine shrub forests.Carbon storageincreased at an average annual rate of 0.8 Tg carbon over the study period.Carbon was mainly stored in young and middle-aged forests,which together accounted for 70–88%of the total forest carbon storage in different inventory periods.Broad-leaved forest was the main contributor to forest carbon sequestration.From 1998 to 2008,during implementation of national afforestation and reforestation programs,the carbon storage of planted forest increased sharply from 3.9 to 37.9 Tg.Our results show that with the growth of young planted forest,Henan Province forests realized large gains in carbon sequestration over a 60-year period that was characterized in part by a nation-wide tree planting program.     

Spatially explicit assessment of carbon stocks of a managed forest area in eastern Germany

The Kyoto-protocol permits the accounting of changes in forest carbon stocks due to forestry. Therefore, forest owners are interested in a reproducible quantification of carbon stocks at the level of forest management units and the impact of management to these stocks or their changes. We calculated the carbon stocks in tree biomass and the organic layer including their uncertainties for several forest management units (Tharandt forest, Eastern Germany, 5,500 ha) spatially explicit at the scale of individual stands by using standard forest data sources. Additionally, soil carbon stocks along a catena were quantified. Finally, carbon stocks of spruce and beech dominated stands were compared and effects of thinning intensity and site conditions were assessed. We combined forest inventory and data of site conditions by using the spatial unions of the shapes (i.e., polygons) in the stand map and the site map. Area weighted means of carbon (C) stocks reached 10.0 kg/m2 in tree biomass, 3.0 kg/m2 in the organic layer and 7.3 kg/m2 in mineral soil. Spatially explicit error propagation yielded a precision of the relative error of carbon stocks at the total studied area of 1% for tree biomass, 45% for the organic layer, and 20% for mineral soil. Mature beech dominated stands at the Tharandt forest had higher tree biomass carbon stocks (13.4 kg/m2) and lower organic layer carbon stocks (1.8 kg/m2) compared to stands dominated by spruce (11.6, 3.0 kg/m2). The difference of tree biomass stocks was mainly due to differences in thinning intensity. The additional effect of site conditions on tree carbon stocks was very small. We conclude that the spatially explicit combination of stand scale inventory data with data on site conditions is suited to quantify carbon stocks in tree biomass and organic layer at operational scale.     

世界竹业开发利用现状、趋势及对策

作者概述了亚太、美洲和非洲3大竹区的竹林资源及其经营情况, 综述了各国用竹造纸、竹笋生产、竹材加工, 以及竹制品和竹建筑、竹林环境利用现状, 提出了发展竹林资源、开发竹产品、开拓市场等对策。     

中国竹林可持续经营认证的必要性和可行性研究

通过文献研究、野外调查和专家研讨和咨询等研究方法,从中国竹林经营现状和世界森林可持续经营认证(简称森林认证)发展趋势入手,对中国开展竹林可持续经营认证的必要性和可行性进行了研究。结果表明,竹林快速生长和更新特性使竹林具有一定的可持续经营性,同时,中国现有的竹林经营技术实践在一定程度上满足了可持续经营的要求。但是,中国有较大面积的人工经营天然次生竹林,长期高强度集约经营对整个竹林生态系统的复杂性和完整性也造成了很大影响,由此引发了很多集约经营的生产性竹林水土流失、地力下降、生物多样性丧失、严重病虫害频发等生态问题,威胁着竹林可持续经营。根据我们的研究,按照目前森林认证发展趋势,竹林可持续经营认证作为促进竹林可持续经营的市场激励手段之一,是值得研究和尝试的。在中国开展绩效性的竹林可持续经营认证,不但有利于中国竹产品在国际贸易中克服绿色贸易壁垒,保持竞争优势,也有利于引导和促进中国竹林的可持续经营实践。总体上竹林认证是必要的。但在可行性方面面临一些问题和挑战。鉴于竹林本身的生物学和生态学特性、竹林经营的技术特点、竹林产品为非木质林产品的特殊性以及我国较为普遍的分户经营特点,可开展小范围试点研究,解决如何开展中小农户的联合认证问题和认证成本过高的问题,同时确保中小农户的利益和竹产品的公平贸易,为进一步的推广行动提供技术支持。在研究和推进竹林可持续经营认证的过程中,要充分考虑与中国现有竹林经营的行业标准和经营实践相衔接和适应。除了要充分利用国内外现有森林认证的理论、技术和经验,还必须充分与竹产业的生产、教学和研究人员进行磋商,充分利用现有竹业经营和开发的经验和技术。以期通过可持续经营认证,保护中国竹产品的国际贸易竞争力,同时积极引导和促进中国竹林可持续经营实践的发展和行业标准的制定。     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in topsoils along forest conversion sequences in the Ore Mountains and the Saxonian lowland, Germany

Carbon and nitrogen stocks and their medium-term and readily decomposable fractions in topsoils were compared in relation to soil microbial biomass and activity along sequences from coniferous to deciduous stands. The study was carried out in the Ore Mountains and the Saxonian lowland, representing two typical natural regions in Saxony, Germany. In accordance with current forest conversion practices, the investigation sites represent different stands: mature conifer stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) (type A); Norway Scots spruce and pine with advanced plantings of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) or European beech/Common oak (Quercus petreae Liebl.) (type B); and mature deciduous stands of European beech and European beech/Common oak (type C). The investigated forest sites can be grouped into three silvicultural situations according to the development from coniferous stands to advanced plantings and finally mature deciduous forests (chronosequence A–B–C). The organic layer (L, F and H horizons) and uppermost mineral soil (0–10 cm) were analysed for potential C mineralisation, microbial biomass, concentrations of total C and N (TOC and TN) and for medium-term and readily decomposable C and N fractions, obtained by hot- and cold-water extraction respectively. The results showed an increase in organic layer thickness and mass as well as TOC and TN stocks along the forest sequences in the lowland. Yet, underplanted sites with two storeys revealed higher organic layer mass as well as TOC and TN stocks as compared to coniferous and deciduous stands. Stocks of hot- and cold-water-extractable C and N in relation to microbial biomass and its activity revealed a high turnover activity in deeper organic horizons of deciduous forests compared to coniferous stands. The stand-specific differentiation is discussed in relation to microbial biomass, litter quantity and quality and forest structure, but also with respect to the site-specific climatic factors and water budget as well as liming and fly-ash impacts. Results indicate higher dynamics in deciduous stands in the lowland especially during the initial turnover phase. The elevated microbial activity in deeper organic horizons of deciduous litter-influenced sites in spring is discussed as a specific indicator for long-term C sequestration potential as besides C mineralisation organic compounds are humified and thus, can be stored in the organic layer or in deeper soil horizons. Due to liming activities, stand-specific effects on organic matter turnover dynamics have evened out today in the Ore mountain region, but will presumably occur again once base saturation decreases. Here, the stand-specific effect on microbial biomass can currently be seen again as C_mic in the L horizon increased from spruce to beech. Our study sites in the lowland revealed no significant fly-ash impact. Differences between sites were evaluated by calculating the discriminance function. TOC and TN as well as medium-term degradable C and N were defined in this study as indicators for turnover dynamics along forest conversion sites.     

Carbon stocks and soil respiration rates during deforestation, grassland use and subsequent Norway spruce afforestation in the Southern Alps, Italy

Changes in carbon stocks during deforestation, reforestation and afforestation play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Cultivation of forest lands leads to substantial losses in both biomass and soil carbon, whereas forest regrowth is considered to be a significant carbon sink. We examined below- and aboveground carbon stocks along a chronosequence of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) stands (0-62 years old) regenerating on abandoned meadows in the Southern Alps. A 130-year-old mixed coniferous Norway spruce-white fir (Abies alba Mill.) forest, managed by selection cutting, was used as an undisturbed control. Deforestation about 260 years ago led to carbon losses of 53 Mg C ha(-1) from the organic layer and 12 Mg C ha(-1) from the upper mineral horizons (Ah, E). During the next 200 years of grassland use, the new Ah horizon sequestered 29 Mg C ha(-1). After the abandonment of these meadows, carbon stocks in tree stems increased exponentially during natural forest succession, levelling off at about 190 Mg C ha(-1) in the 62-year-old Norway spruce and the 130-year-old Norway spruce-white fir stands. In contrast, carbon stocks in the organic soil layer increased linearly with stand age. During the first 62 years, carbon accumulated at a rate of 0.36 Mg C ha(-1) year(-1) in the organic soil layer. No clear trend with stand age was observed for the carbon stocks in the Ah horizon. Soil respiration rates were similar for all forest stands independently of organic layer thickness or carbon stocks, but the highest rates were observed in the cultivated meadow. Thus, increasing litter inputs by forest vegetation compared with the meadow, and constantly low decomposition rates of coniferous litter were probably responsible for continuous soil carbon sequestration during forest succession. Carbon accumulation in woody biomass seemed to slow down after 60 to 80 years, but continued in the organic soil layer. We conclude that, under present climatic conditions, forest soils act as more persistent carbon sinks than vegetation that will be harvested, releasing the carbon sequestered during tree growth.     

Influence of soil acidity on depth gradients of microbial biomass in beech forest soils

The objectives of the study were to investigate mineral soil profiles as a living space for microbial decomposers and the relation of microbial properties to soil acidity. We estimated microbial biomass C on concentration (g g^–1 DW) as well as on volume basis (g m^–2) and the microbial biomass C to soil organic C ratio along a vertical gradient from L horizon to 20 cm in the mineral soil and along a gradient of increasing acidity at five beech forest stands in Germany. Microbial biomass C concentration ranged from 17,000–34,000 g C_mic g^–1 DW in the litter layer and decreased dramatically down the profile to 29–264 g C_mic g^–1 DW at 15–20 cm depth in the mineral soil. This represents depth gradients of microbial biomass C concentrations ranging from a factor of 65 in slightly acidic and up to 875 in acidic soils. In contrast, microbial biomass C calculated on a volume basis (g C_mic m^–2) showed a different pattern since a considerable part of the microbial biomass C was located in the mineral soils. In the soil profile 22–34% of the microbial biomass C was found in the mineral soil at strictly acidic sites and as much as 64–88% in slightly acidic soils. The microbial biomass C to soil organic carbon ratios decreased in general down from the L horizon in the forest floor to 0–5 cm depth in the mineral soils. In strongly acidic mineral soils however, the C to soil organic carbon ratio increased with depth, suggesting a positive relation to increasing pH. We conclude from depth gradients of soil pH and microbial biomass C to soil organic carbon ratio that pH affects this ratio at acidic sites. The inter-site comparison indicates that acidity restricts microbial biomass C in the mineral soils.     

走向新世纪的中国竹业

中国地域辽阔,复杂的地形地势和多样的气候土壤为竹类植物多样性提供了基本条件,成为世界竹类植物分布中心地区。中国竹类植物资源丰富,栽培利用历史悠久,竹子与中国数千年文明史的发展息息相关。无论是竹种资源的数量、竹林面积和蓄积,还是竹林产品的产量及其加工水平,皆居世界产竹国之首,故有“世界竹子王国”之誉称。     

Comparison of depth- and mass-based approaches for estimating changes in forest soil carbon stocks: A case study in young plantations and secondary forests in West Java, Indonesia

Soil carbon (C) stocks in forest ecosystems have been widely estimated to a fixed soil depth (i.e., 0-30 cm) to clarify temporal changes in the C pool. However, surface elevations change as a result of compaction or expansion of the soil under forest management and land use. On the other hand, the calculation of soil C stocks based on “equivalent soil mass” is not affected by compaction or expansion of forest soil. To contribute to the development of a forest C accounting methodology, we compared changes in soil C stocks over 4 years between depth- and mass-based approaches using original soil data collected at 0-30 cm depths in young plantations and secondary forests in West Java, Indonesia. Our methodology expanded on the mass-based approach; rather than using one representative value for the mass-based calculation of soil C stocks, we adjusted individual values, maintaining the coefficient of variance in soil mass. We also considered the effect of an increase or decrease in soil organic matter on equivalent soil mass. Both increasing and decreasing trends in soil C stocks became clearer when the mass-based approach was used rather than the depth-based approach. The trends in soil C stocks based on equivalent soil mass were particularly evident in the surface soil layers (0-5 cm) and in plantation sites, compared with those for soil profiles including subsurface soil layers (0-30 cm) and in secondary forests. These trends in soil C stocks corresponded with temporal trends in litter stocks. We suggest that equivalent mass-basis soil C stock for the upper 30 cm of soil be calculated based on multiple soil layers to reduce estimation errors. Changes in soil organic matter mass had little effect on the estimation of soil C stock on an equivalent mass basis. For the development of a forest C accounting system, the mass-based approach should be used to characterize temporal trends in soil C stocks and to improve C cycle models, rather than simpler methods of calculating soil C stocks. These improvements will help to increase the tier level of country-specific forest C accounting systems.     

基于碳中和愿景的竹林生态系统管理思考

竹子具有良好的固碳增汇能力,为实现中国在2060年前达到碳中和目标,竹林生态系统的经营与管理至关重要。文章从竹林生态系统合理布局、结构优化及综合管理等方面,探讨了碳中和愿景下竹林生态系统经营模式及管理方式,旨在为充分发挥和巩固竹林碳中和贡献提供依据,同时展望了后碳中和时代,竹林经营与管理发展方向。     

不同森林植被下土壤微生物量碳和易氧化态碳的比较

土壤碳库平衡是土壤肥力保持的重要内容[1].不同森林类型,由于其凋落物数量、类组及分解行为不同,因而形成的土壤碳库大小与特征将存在较大差别.常绿阔叶林、马尾松(Pinus massoniana Lamp.)林、杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.)Hook.)林和毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis(Carr.)H.de Lehaie)林是我国亚热带最主要的4种森林类型.     

Do indicators of nitrogen retention and leaching differ between coniferous and broadleaved forests in Denmark?

The area of broadleaved forests is projected to increase in Denmark as well as in the rest of Europe. However, studies of the N leaching response to elevated N deposition have focused on coniferous stands and considerable uncertainty still remains on whether broadleaved and coniferous forests respond differently to elevated N. We studied N input–output relations for eight stands intensively monitored during 2002–2005 and literature data for 37 additional stands which together formed a comprehensive dataset on Danish forests including 26 broadleaved stands and 19 coniferous stands. Nitrate leaching was significantly higher in first generation stands on former arable land with mineral soil C/N ratios 10–15, but both low and high rates were observed independent of the N input. A net N loss was observed in some of these stands even though they are in the aggrading phase and accumulate N in the biomass. Broadleaved stands had significantly lower throughfall N deposition than coniferous stands and this seems to be the main process where forest type exerts an influence on the N cycle. Lower soil C/N ratios offset the effect of throughfall N deposition and thus N leaching did not differ between the two forest types. The best regression models for prediction of nitrate leaching included throughfall N deposition and C/N ratio, but only a minor part of the variability was explained. The C/N ratio of the upper mineral soil was more generally applicable than that of the organic layer. The N retention of the soil was reasonably well predicted above a C/N ratio of 25, but below this threshold the importance is not known. We suggest focusing future efforts on quantifying the relative retention functions (sink strength) of the vegetation and the soil organic matter to improve the predictions of N retention and N leaching.     

Carbon sequestration potential of the stands under the Grain for Green Program in Yunnan Province,China

The carbon sequestration potential in living biomass and soil organic matter under the Grain for Green Program (GGP) in Yunnan Province, one of the most important target provinces of the GGP in China, was estimated in this paper using empirical curves and factors. The area of tree species planted during 2000–2007 was collected, and four scenarios for the annual area of GGP-stands to be planted during 2008–2010 and harvest options were schemed. Empirical growth curves for different tree species were developed based on data about the growth of existing plantation in Yunnan Province from National Forestry Inventory, and were used for the estimation of the carbon stocks in the tree biomass pools by incorporating with basic wood density, biomass expansion factors and carbon fraction. Empirical factors were introduced to estimate the stock change in soil organic carbon (SOC) under the GGP. The results show that the carbon stock in the GGP-stands in Yunnan Province will increase by 12.474–12.608 TgC, 33.016–35.161 TgC, 38.119–47.100 TgC, 43.057–53.626 TgC and 49.918–56.621 by the year 2010, 2020, 2030, 2040 and 2050, respectively. The annual carbon stock change in the GGP-stands will peak at 2.342–2.536 TgC per year in 2013, followed by a gradual decrease. The estimated potential carbon sequestration by GGP-stands amounts to 10.82–12.27% of the carbon stocks of forest ecosystems in Yunnan province in the 1990s.     

Stand biomass and carbon storage of bamboo forest in Penglipuran traditional village,Bali (Indonesia)

Bamboo forest is an important land use in the traditional village of Penglipuran, Bali Indonesia. Bamboo growing in the rural areas can be a good choice for capturing CO₂. I harvested selected culms to determine biomass content, and 50 % of dry weight biomass was calculated as carbon content. The Penglipuran bamboo forest supported six bamboo species in a one hectare sampling plot, all of the genus Gigantochloa. The clump and culm densities were 339 and 7190 ha^-1, respectively.Total above- plus below-ground biomass was87.35 Mg ha^-1, and carbon storage was 43.67 Mg ha^-1.Carbon storage estimated in the bamboo forest at Penglipuran offers insight into the opportunity for PES（payment for ecosystem services） through emission trading mechanisms.     

Changes in carbon stock following soil scarification of non-wooded stands in Hokkaido,northern Japan

To restore non-wooded stands dominated by dwarf bamboo species (Sasa kurilensis or S. senanensis) into forests, mechanical soil scarification has been applied in northern Japan since the 1960s. The treatment is followed both by natural regeneration and artificial planting. In this study, we quantified the total carbon stock (plants plus 0.3 m depth of soil) of these stands over 35-year age-sequences. The natural regeneration stands were gradually dominated by Betula ermanii. The carbon stock increased linearly to 215.1 ± 35.2 Mg C ha⁻¹ for a 37-year-old stand formerly dominated by S. kurilensis, and 181.1 ± 29.8 Mg C ha⁻¹ for a 34-year-old stand formerly dominated by S. senanensis. The latter was similar to that of a Picea glehnii plantation, formerly dominated by S. senanensis, with comparable stand age (160.3 ± 6.7 Mg C ha⁻¹ for 35-year-old stands). Although the carbon stock in plants quickly offset the untreated level, that in the soil remained depressed even in the older stands. This resulted in small differences in carbon stock of these stands with untreated dwarf bamboo stands. We conclude that natural regeneration following scarification could be a prime option for carbon sink management in the region. However, we should take a long rotation period (i.e., >50 years) to ensure a carbon sink state. A potential of further improvements of the practice, including that reduce intensity of soil disturbance, was presented.     

Nutrient cycling and soil leaching in eighteen pure and mixed stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies)

Studies on the combined effects of beech–spruce mixtures are very rare. Hence, forest nutrition (soil, foliage) and nutrient fluxes via throughfall and soil solution were measured in adjacent stands of pure spruce, mixed spruce–beech and pure beech on three nutrient rich sites (Flysch) and three nutrient poor sites (Molasse) over a 2-year period. At low deposition rates (highest throughfall fluxes: 17 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 5 kg S ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) there was hardly any linkage between nutrient inputs and outputs. Element outputs were rather driven by internal N (mineralization, nitrification) and S (net mineralization of organic S compounds, desorption of historically deposited S) sources. Nitrate and sulfate seepage losses of spruce–beech mixtures were higher than expected from the corresponding single-species stands due to an unfavorable combination of spruce-similar soil solution concentrations coupled with beech-similar water fluxes on Flysch, while most processes on Molasse showed linear responses. Our data show that nutrient leaching through the soil is not simply a “wash through” but is mediated by a complex set of reactions within the plant–soil system.