title: Above- and below-ground carbon stocks in an indigenous tree (Mytilaria laosensis) plantation chronosequence in subtropical China.
abstract: More than 60% of the total area of tree plantations in China is in subtropical, and over 70% of subtropical plantations consist of pure stands of coniferous species. Because of the poor ecosystem services provided by pure coniferous plantations and the ecological instability of these stands, a movement is under way to promote indigenous broadleaf plantation cultivation as a promising alternative. However, little is known about the carbon (C) stocks in indigenous broadleaf plantations and their dependence on stand age. Thus, we studied above- and below-ground biomass and C stocks in a chronosequence of Mytilaria laosensis plantations in subtropical China; stands were 7, 10, 18, 23, 29 and 33 years old. Our assessments included tree, shrub, herb and litter layers. We used plot-level inventories and destructive tree sampling to determine vegetation C stocks. We also measured soil C stocks by analyses of soil profiles to 100 cm depth. C stocks in the tree layer dominated the above-ground ecosystem C pool across the chronosequence. C stocks increased with age from 7 to 29 years and plateaued thereafter due to a reduction in tree growth rates. Minor C stocks were found in the shrub and herb layers of all six plantations and their temporal fluctuations were relatively small. C stocks in the litter and soil layers increased with stand age. Total above-ground ecosystem C also increased with stand age. Most increases in C stocks in below-ground and total ecosystems were attributable to increases in soil C content and tree biomass. Therefore, considerations of C sequestration potential in indigenous broadleaf plantations must take stand age into account.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, China PR; Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China PR; Guangxi Youyiguan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Pingxiang, Guangxi, China PR.
authors.forename: Angang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, China PR; Guangxi Youyiguan Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Pingxiang, Guangxi, China PR.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China PR.
authors.forename: Jinlong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang, Guangxi, China PR.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China PR.
authors.forename: Yuanfa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D029201:Hamamelidaceae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012987:Soil; D013997:Time Factors; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002244:Carbon