Carbon sequestration in a chronosequence of Scots pine stands in a reclaimed opencast oil shale mine

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1507-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Karu ◽  
Robert Szava-Kovats ◽  
Margus Pensa ◽  
Olevi Kull

Ecosystems that develop on mine spoil can serve as significant sinks for CO2. The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of carbon accumulation and its distribution along forest ecosystem partitions in young Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) plantations in the Narva oil shale opencast, Estonia. The tree layer was measured in 2004 in 13 stands afforested with 2-year-old seedlings during 1968 to 1994. Three stands (afforested in 1990, 1983, and 1968) were selected for detailed analysis of the carbon sequestration. Soil profiles were sampled in these stands in 2005. Radiocarbon analysis combined with a simple model of litter production was used to differentiate between plant-derived recent carbon and carbon stemming from fragments of oil shale. Total carbon accumulated since afforestation in vegetation, forest floor, and A horizon was 7.8 t·ha–1 in the stand established in 1990, 34.5 t·ha–1 in that established in 1983, and 133.4 t·ha–1 in that established in 1968. Most of the sequestered carbon was allocated to tree stems; their portion increasing with age from 28% to 51%. The portion of recent soil organic carbon increased from 5% to 23%, which shows that soils contribute significantly to carbon accumulation during early forest succession on degraded land.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 929-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Charman ◽  
D. W. Beilman ◽  
M. Blaauw ◽  
R. K. Booth ◽  
S. Brewer ◽  
...  

Abstract. Peatlands are a major terrestrial carbon store and a persistent natural carbon sink during the Holocene, but there is considerable uncertainty over the fate of peatland carbon in a changing climate. It is generally assumed that higher temperatures will increase peat decay, causing a positive feedback to climate warming and contributing to the global positive carbon cycle feedback. Here we use a new extensive database of peat profiles across northern high latitudes to examine spatial and temporal patterns of carbon accumulation over the past millennium. Opposite to expectations, our results indicate a small negative carbon cycle feedback from past changes in the long-term accumulation rates of northern peatlands. Total carbon accumulated over the last 1000 yr is linearly related to contemporary growing season length and photosynthetically active radiation, suggesting that variability in net primary productivity is more important than decomposition in determining long-term carbon accumulation. Furthermore, northern peatland carbon sequestration rate declined over the climate transition from the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) to the Little Ice Age (LIA), probably because of lower LIA temperatures combined with increased cloudiness suppressing net primary productivity. Other factors including changing moisture status, peatland distribution, fire, nitrogen deposition, permafrost thaw and methane emissions will also influence future peatland carbon cycle feedbacks, but our data suggest that the carbon sequestration rate could increase over many areas of northern peatlands in a warmer future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kangkuso Analuddin ◽  
Kadidae La Ode ◽  
Muhammad Yasir Haya La Ode ◽  
Septiana Andi ◽  
Sahidin Idin ◽  
...  

Abstract. Analuddin K, Kadidae LO, Haya LOMY, Septiana A, Sahidin I, Syahrir L, Rahim S, Fajar LOA, Nadaoka K. 2020. Aboveground biomass, productivity and carbon sequestration in Rhizophora stylosa mangrove forest of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1316-1325. This study was aimed at analyzing the trends of aboveground biomass (AGB), productivity and carbon sequestration of Rhizophora stylosa Griff. forest in Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park (RAWNP), Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. The DBH was the best predictor for partial and whole AGB of R. stylosa trees. The mean AGB was 562.76 ton ha-1. The yearly biomass increment of living trees, biomass increment of whole stands, standing dead biomass, and litterfall in R. stylosa forest were estimated as 52.87, 50.09, 2.78 and 12.00 ton ha-1, respectively, while its net primary production was about 64.88 ton ha-1 yr-1 indicating higher mangrove productivity. The total carbon stock in R. stylosa forest was 264.50 ton ha-1, while the annual net carbon budget, carbon gain and carbon input in R. stylosa forest was 23.54, 24.85 and 5.64 ton ha-1. However, the total CO2 stored in R. stylosa forest was 969.83 ton ha-1, while the annual of net CO2 uptake, CO2 gained and CO2 input was 86.33, 91.12 and 20.86 ton ha-1. The higher carbon sequestration and CO2 uptake in R. stylosa forest indicate its significant role in the global carbon accumulation and reducing atmospheric CO2.


2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 595-595
Author(s):  
Helen Karu ◽  
Robert Szava-Kovats ◽  
Margus Pensa ◽  
Olevi Kull

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer H. Levy-Varon ◽  
Sarah A. Batterman ◽  
David Medvigy ◽  
Xiangtao Xu ◽  
Jefferson S. Hall ◽  
...  

AbstractA major uncertainty in the land carbon cycle is whether symbiotic nitrogen fixation acts to enhance the tropical forest carbon sink. Nitrogen-fixing trees can supply vital quantities of the growth-limiting nutrient nitrogen, but the extent to which the resulting carbon–nitrogen feedback safeguards ecosystem carbon sequestration remains unclear. We combine (i) field observations from 112 plots spanning 300 years of succession in Panamanian tropical forests, and (ii) a new model that resolves nitrogen and light competition at the scale of individual trees. Fixation doubled carbon accumulation in early succession and enhanced total carbon in mature forests by ~10% (~12MgC ha−1) through two mechanisms: (i) a direct fixation effect on tree growth, and (ii) an indirect effect on the successional sequence of non-fixing trees. We estimate that including nitrogen-fixing trees in Neotropical reforestation projects could safeguard the sequestration of 6.7 Gt CO2 over the next 20 years. Our results highlight the connection between functional diversity of plant communities and the critical ecosystem service of carbon sequestration for mitigating climate change.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 387
Author(s):  
Mendup Tamang ◽  
Roman Chettri ◽  
Vineeta Vineeta ◽  
Gopal Shukla ◽  
Jahangeer A. Bhat ◽  
...  

In the modern era, Gmelina arborea plantations are a hotspot of future research because of their high carbon sequestration potential. The present work was conducted during 2018 to 2020 on a young unmanaged Gmelina farm to understand the ecosystem’s carbon and its dynamics. The study area was categorized into three age classes: ≤ 5, 5–10, and 10–15 years. In a plantation, Gmelina trees (10%) were randomly selected while other trees (90%) were also taken into the consideration for ecosystem carbon. A stratified random nested quadrate sampling method was adopted for analyzing other vegetation forms under study. Overall, 51 individual species in the studied Gmelina farm were found which includes 23 tree species, 7 shrub species, 16 herbs, 2 climbers, and 3 species of ferns. The estimated quantitative vegetation parameters and diversity indices indicate that the plant assemblages were heterogeneous with native diverse species evenly distributed with fairly higher densities, frequencies, and abundance. Herbs were the most important species followed by shrubs and trees. Consequently, with the increasing age of plantation, the richness of plant species increased. Soil properties were significantly influenced by the age of the plantation but exhibited no discreet trend. Total biomass density and total carbon density increased with increasing plantation age while no drastic variation was found in available soil organic carbon (SOC) because of insignificant variability in litter production. Total carbon, available SOC (up to 60 cm depth) and ecosystem carbon in the three age class plantations fell in the ranges of 54.51–59.91, 48.18–55.73, and 104.81–110.77 Mg ha−1, respectively. The carbon sequestration potential of Gmelina arborea is higher compared to other reported species and highly supportive of converting unutilized agricultural landscapes to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide in future.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 14327-14364 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Charman ◽  
D. W. Beilman ◽  
M. Blaauw ◽  
R. K. Booth ◽  
S. Brewer ◽  
...  

Abstract. Peatlands are a major terrestrial carbon store and a persistent natural carbon sink during the Holocene, but there is considerable uncertainty over the fate of peatland carbon in a changing climate. It is generally assumed that higher temperatures will increase peat decay, causing a positive feedback to climate warming and contributing to the global positive carbon cycle feedback. Here we use a new extensive database of peat profiles across northern high latitudes to examine spatial and temporal patterns of carbon accumulation over the past millennium. Opposite to expectations, our results indicate a small negative carbon cycle feedback from past changes in the long-term accumulation rates of northern peatlands. Total carbon accumulated over the last 1000 yr is linearly related to contemporary growing season length and photosynthetically active radiation, suggesting that variability in net primary productivity is more important than decomposition in determining long-term carbon accumulation. Furthermore, northern peatland carbon sequestration rate declines over the climate transition from the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) to the Little Ice Age (LIA), probably because of lower LIA temperatures combined with increased cloudiness suppressing net primary productivity. Other factors including changing moisture status, peatland distribution, fire, nitrogen deposition, permafrost thaw and methane emissions will also influence future peatland carbon cycle feedbacks, but our data suggest that the carbon sequestration rate could increase over many areas of northern peatlands.


2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Hendershot

ABSTRACT Thirteen soil profiles from northern Québec and Labrador, Canada, near the northern tree-line, were sampled and analysed. Five of these, located on poorly to imperfectly drained sites, are strongly cryoturbated soils with permafrost at a shallow depth. Below the surface horizon they have very uniform profile distributions of pH, carbon and extractable iron and aluminum due to the active mixing of the horizons. The eight soils from well-drained sites have profiles similar to those of soils in similar settings in more temperate climatic regions. One of these, developed in one of the most northerly valleys having a black spruce-larch forest vegetation, has the characteristics of a podzol (spodosol) except that the podzolic B (spodic) horizon is too thin. The other seven profiles all have color B horizons, although the coarse texture prevents their classification as cambic horizons; these soils all have carbon-rich A horizons varying in thickness from 1.5 to 20 cm. Soil temperature at 50 cm depth closely follows the elevational and latitudinal distribution of the soils; a range of 0 to 10° C was observed. Soil development, measured as depth of solum, organic carbon accumulation or degree of B horizon development, is closely related to soil temperature and site position. The presence of permanently frozen ice layers at shallow depth has a marked influence on soil genesis and the properties of the resultant soils.


The Holocene ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 651-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystyna Milecka ◽  
Grzegorz Kowalewski ◽  
Barbara Fiałkiewicz-Kozieł ◽  
Mariusz Gałka ◽  
Mariusz Lamentowicz ◽  
...  

Wetlands are very vulnerable ecosystems and sensitive to changes in the ground water table. For the last few thousand years, hydrological balance has also been influenced by human activity. To improve their cropping features, drainage activity and fertilizing were applied. The drainage process led to an abrupt change of environment, the replacement of plant communities and the entire ecosystem. The problem of carbon sequestration is very important nowadays. A higher accumulation rate is related to higher carbon accumulation, but the intensity of carbon sequestration depends on the type of mire, habitat, and climatic zone. The main aim of this article was an examination of the changes in poor-fen ecosystem during the last 200 years in relation to natural and anthropogenic factors, using paleoecological methods (pollen and macrofossils). The second aim was a detailed investigation of the sedimentary record to aid our understanding of carbon sequestration in the poor fen of temperate zone. This case study shows that fens in temperate zones, in comparison with boreal ones, show higher carbon accumulation rates which have been especially intensive over the last few decades. To reconstruct vegetation changes, detailed palynological and macrofossil analyses were done. A 200-year history of the mire revealed that it was influenced by human activity to much degree. However, despite the nearby settlement and building of the drainage ditch, the precious species and plant communities still occur.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Jina ◽  
Pankaj Sah ◽  
M. D. Bhatt ◽  
Y. S. Rawat

We calculated the rates at which CO2 is being sequestered in two different forest types of Himalaya. For our comparative study we took the degraded and non-degraded sites of pine and oak forests in Kumaun Central Himalaya. The Van Panchayats (VPs) or Community Forests are managing the nondegraded forest sites for centuries, and from this research we have come to know that the sequestration of CO2 in these non-degraded forests is significantly greater than the degraded forests. The paper recommends the significance of community forests in both Uttarakhand and the world, and advocates that if we want to fight against global warming, we must encourage the community forests and that the people living in severe poverty in these forest areas who become the unsung heroes in the war against global warming, must be paid in lieu of saving their forests, which ultimately become the sink for increased CO2 worldwide. This business or ‘carbon trading' will indeed evolve as the panacea against the war against global warming. Key words: Carbon sequestration, community forests, Van Panchayats, green house gases, global warming, carbon trading.   doi: 10.3126/eco.v15i0.1946 ECOPRINT 15: 75-81, 2008


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