Xiao-Quan Zhang, Miko U.F. Kirschbaum, Zhenhong
Hou, Zhihua Guo (2004). Carbon stock changes in successive rotations of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia
lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantations.
Abstract. Chinese fir is an
important timber species in
In this paper we have collected and
compiled published data relevant to growth and soil properties over successive
rotations of Chinese fir, calculated the stocks of biomass and soil organic
carbon and nitrogen, and have analyzed the impact on carbon stocks of growing
Chinese fir over successive rotations.
We found that on an average,
biomass increments were reduced by 24% from the first to the second rotation,
and by a further 40% to the third rotation. Soil organic carbon was reduced by
10% and 15% for the second and third rotations, respectively. Soil carbon
losses were usually accompanied by nitrogen losses but carbon losses were
generally larger than nitrogen losses. The reduction of carbon stocks in
successive rotations appears to be related to increases in soil bulk density
and nutrient losses caused by burning of residues during site preparation.
This reduction in carbon stocks has important implications for governments and forest managers who wish to mitigate net carbon dioxide emissions through sequestration in managed forests. Potential afforestation/reforestation projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol may also need to consider the possible yield decline and soil degradation over successive rotations of plantations.