Effects of prescribed burning on carbon accumulation in two paired vegetation sites in subtropical China

Forest Ecosystems

Yuanqi Chen¹  Lixia Zhou²  Feng Li³  Jianbo Cao³  Shenglei Fu⁴ 

[1] Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Clean-utilization and Mine Environment Protection, Hunan University of Science and Technology, 411201, Xiangtan, China;Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Safe Utilization of Heavy Metal-polluted Soils, College of Hunan Province, School of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, 411201, Xiangtan, Hunan, China;Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510650, Guangzhou, China;Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Safe Utilization of Heavy Metal-polluted Soils, College of Hunan Province, School of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, 411201, Xiangtan, Hunan, China;Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Safe Utilization of Heavy Metal-polluted Soils, College of Hunan Province, School of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, 411201, Xiangtan, Hunan, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China;Key laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle & Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, 475004, Kaifeng, China;

关键词: Prescribed fire;    Reforestation;    Plant biomass carbon;    Soil organic carbon;    Forest management;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40663-019-0185-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPrescribed burning is a common practice of site preparation before afforestation in subtropical forests. However, the effects of prescribed burning on carbon (C) dynamics of an ecosystem are poorly understood. Therefore, a Eucalyptus urophylla plantation (EU) and a naturally recovered shrubland (NS), each treated with prescribed burning and no burning were examined in subtropical China.MethodsBiomass of trees and shrubs in the 1st, 3nd, 4th, and 6th year after treatments were estimated by quadrat survey and allometric equations. Biomass of herbs and forest floors were estimated by harvest method. Plant biomass C storage was calculated by plant biomass multiplying by its C concentration. Soil organic C (SOC) storage in the 6th year after treatments was estimated by SOC concentration multiplying by soil bulk density and soil volumes.ResultsTree biomass C storage was significantly higher in the burned EU (BEU) than in the unburned EU (UEU) in the 1st year after treatments, yet the difference decreased over time. Conversely, tree biomass C storage was lower in the burned NS (BNS) than in the unburned NS (UNS), although the difference was not significant. However, in the 6th year after treatments, the total plant biomass C storage was 14.56% higher in the BEU than that in the UEU, and 59.93% higher in the BNS than that in the UNS, respectively, although the significant difference was only found between UNS and BNS. In addition, neither SOC storage at 0–20 cm nor ecosystem C storage in either the EU or NS was significantly affected by prescribed burning.ConclusionsPrescribed burning has little impact on overall C storage of forest ecosystems, we consider that prescribed burning may be an option for forest site preparation regarding plant biomass C accumulation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY