Analysis of biomass in young Scots pine stands as a basis for sustainable forest management in Czech lowlands

Abstract

Novák J., Dušek D., Kacálek D., Slodičák M. (2017): Analysis of biomass in young Scots pine stands as a basis for sustainable forest management in Czech lowlands. J. For. Sci., 63: 555-561.Scots pine covers large areas on sandy soils in lowlands of the Czech Republic. These sites can be threatened by nonsustainable biomass removal after clear-cutting. Totally 14 young pine stands at 14-26 years of age were analysed. Particular biomass components were separated, weighed and analysed to investigate their biomass and nutrient contents such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Results showed that leaving slash (needles and branches) plus belowground biomass (stumps and coarse roots) on the site represents 51% of calcium, 62% of magnesium, 74% of nitrogen, 67% of phosphorus and 72% of potassium. The total nutrient pools (without fine roots) were 171-377 kg·ha -1 for nitrogen, 34-72 kg·ha -1 for phosphorus, 74-172 kg·ha -1 for potassium, 82-180 kg·ha -1 for calcium and 19-42 kg·ha -1 for magnesium. Needles and live branches are the most important pools of nutrients and the extraction of these parts of biomass can negatively affect the nutrient balance of forest stands on nutrient-poor sites. Stumps with coarse and fine roots also represent a significant pool of nutrients which is left on the studied sites.

The Impacts of the Energy Potential of Forest Biomass on the Local Market: An Example of South-Eastern Poland

“…For the protection of habitats, it is important that leaves and bark remain in the forest, in which the most macro-and micro-components are accumulated [35]. Novák et al [36] additionally postulate leaving belowground biomass (stumps and coarse roots), especially in poor habitats. The need for the sustainable acquisition of forest biomass for energy purposes is also highlighted by Frombo et al [37].…”

Long-Term Influence of Stump-Removal on Components of Hemiboreal Pine Forest Ecosystem

“…Nitrogen accumulates when the stumps decompose [18,19]. By removing all tree biomass from a forest stand, nutrient loss is significantly higher, in comparison to only stump harvesting, since needles/leaves and twigs have the highest nutrient amount and concentration [20,21]. Nutrient removal might affect the growth of next tree generation at early stages [8].…”