carbon stock estimates for red spruce (picea rubens) forest in central nova scotia
abstract
carbon storage was measured in natural red spruce dominated stands in the
eastern eco-region of central nova scotia (ns). twenty-four plots over a 140-year
chronosequence were established. within each plot, major carbon pools including above-and-
belowground tree biomass, dead organic matter (dom) and upper (0-0.1 m) mineral
soil were measured. carbon storage measurements were compared with simulation
results for ns predicted by the beta-version of the cbm-cfs 3 in order to observe any
significant differences and make potential calibrations. the calibrated beta-model was
then used to simulate and compare several forest management scenarios currently being
used in ns to manage red spruce forests and to examine their potential to enhance carbon
sequestration. overall carbon storage increased throughout stand development peaking in
the 81-100 year age class at 247 mg c ha'1. significant differences between the observed
carbon storage and the cbm-cfs 3 (beta) predicted values were recognized. these
differences were attributed to over estimation of belowground dom pools by the model
and the design of the sampling regime of the observed data. a traditional clear-cut
scheme (100% removal of aboveground tree biomass) used to manage red spruce in ns,
and a partial-cut scheme (50% removal of aboveground tree biomass) were then
simulated with the calibrated model. the partial-cut stand displayed maximum carbon
storage of 232.38 mg c ha"1, while the clear-cut stand showed 197.75 mg c ha'1. on
average the partial-cut stand stored 202 mg c ha'1 between years 80 and 240 of the
simulation, while the clear-cut stand stored 123 mg c ha'1, thus indicating a higher
carbon sequestration potential for partial-cutting.
collections
- retrospective theses [1604]