Polyculture affects biomass production of component species but not total standing biomass and soil carbon stocks in a temperate forest plantation

0508784 - ÚVGZ 2020 RIV FR eng J - Journal Article
Ahmed, I. U. - Smith, A. R. - Godbold, Douglas
Polyculture affects biomass production of component species but not total standing biomass and soil carbon stocks in a temperate forest plantation.
Annals of Forest Science. Roč. 76, č. 3 (2019), č. článku 91. ISSN 1286-4560. E-ISSN 1297-966X
Research Infrastructure: CzeCOS II - 90061
Institutional support: RVO:86652079
Keywords : spruce picea-abies * tree plantations * organic-carbon * eucalyptus * afforestation * diversity * turnover * identity * storage * system * Woody biomass * Root biomass * Tree polyculture * Mixture effect * Soil C
OECD category: Forestry
Impact factor: 2.033, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Open access
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13595-019-0875-2

Key message Over-yielding of stand biomass did not occur in a tree polyculture comprised of Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa and Fagus sylvatica selected for contrasting traits. This was due to antagonistic interactions between the component species. Fine root dynamics and soil C stocks were unaffected by species mixture. Context Increasing CO2 fixation in tree biomass through afforestation and forest management actions has potential for cost-effective climate mitigation. The influences of tree mixture on biomass production and subsequent soil C accumulation in polyculture still remain uncertain. Aims We studied the polyculture of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn, Betula pendula Roth and Fagus sylvatica L. in a plantation forest to examine the effectiveness of species mixtures as a tool for increased biomass production and soil C accumulation. Methods Tree biomass was estimated by developing species-specific allometric models and 3 years tree measurement. Fine root biomass and production were estimated by root coring and root-mesh methods. The 'relative yield of mixture' approach was used to examine the mixture effect. Results In mixture, an additive effect was observed in A. glutinosa (13% increase in basal diameter relative to the monoculture), however, there was no overall effect of mixture on total standing biomass due to the suppression of F. sylvatica (2.75 g m(-2) reduction in woody biomass). Fine root biomass production showed no mixture effect. The quantity and quality of soil C (top 0.5 m) was not affected by tree mixture. Conclusion We conclude that the contrasting growth responses of the A. glutinosa, B. pendula and F. sylvatica in polyculture resulted in no over-yielding of standing biomass despite the complementary traits of the component species.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0299600