Carbon stocks in a 50‑year‑oldEucalyptus camaldulensisstand in Sicily, Italy

Abstract

Eucalyptus stands in semi-arid areas may contribute to enhance carbon (C) stocks in both biomass and soil. However, the limited information available is mainly focused on short-rotation plantations. In this study, the aboveand below-ground C pools in five 50-year-old Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. stands planted on Miocenic evaporitic deposits in Sicily, Italy, with a xeric and thermic pedoclimate, were measured. Above-ground biomass was determined by partitioning and weighing branches, stem and leaves. Below-ground C pools included the determination of litter, root biomass, and soil organic and inorganic C. In terms of the above-ground biomass, the E. camaldulensis stand accumulated on average 116 Mg ha −1 corresponding to 55 Mg C ha −1 . Below-ground biomass consisted mainly of larger roots, followed by fine and medium roots (33 Mg ha −1 corresponding to 14 Mg C ha −1 ). Litter accumulation on the soil surface accounted for 13 Mg ha −1 corresponding to 5 Mg C ha −1 . The amount of C stored in soil was 554 Mg C ha −1 , of which 75% was in organic form. Although E. camaldulensis is planted extensively throughout the Southern Hemisphere and tropics where it is managed over short rotations (c. 2-4 years), the results obtained from this study make this species important in terms of future afforestation planning for longer rotations due to its potential to sequester C, particularly in the below-ground components.

Allocation Strategies of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus at Species and Community Levels With Recovery After Wildfire

“…The soil and litter N concentrations were increased in the medium recovery periods ( Figure 2 ). With increasing recovery periods, the increases of soil and litter N may be caused by the restoration of the understory community, which is consistent with the increasing soil and litter nutrient concentrations with higher species diversity ( Scalenghe et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Wildfire altered the soil nutrient pools and reduced litter nutrient concentrations ( Tufekcioglu et al, 2010 ; Michalzik and Martin, 2013 ; Holden et al, 2016 ). Wildfire incinerates the majority of litter on the forest floor, where the amount of nutrients volatilizes with the destroyed vegetation ( Toberman et al, 2014 ; Scalenghe et al, 2015 ). Limited nutrient supplement hampers aboveground growth and lowers the nutrient concentrations of litter ( Nobles et al, 2009 ).…”

Evaluation of the effects of conservation practices carried out in the 1970s on soil properties in the Eastern Region of Paraguay

“…However, greater loss of most nutrients (P, Mg, K, Ca) and increased soil acidity were observed in these soils (Table 2), relative to the agricultural soils. Other studies have shown that reforestation with eucalypts (and other species) improves the condition of degraded soils, especially in low‐intensity forest management systems (Scalenghe et al, 2015, in Sicily; Boulmane et al, 2017, in Morocco). Part of the increase in soil organic matter is due to the high root biomass of this species (Christina et al, 2011; Pinheiro et al, 2016; Razakamanarivo et al, 2011).…”

Suggestions for sustainable Eucalyptus clonal cultivation in Mediterranean climate areas of central and southern Italy

“…Si stima che in una tonnellata di biomassa anidra vi siano orientativamente circa 5-6 kg di azoto (N), 1 kg di fosforo (P), 2 kg di potassio (K), 2 kg di calcio (Ca), 1 kg di magnesio (Mg -Laclau et al 2003, González-García et al 2015. Inoltre, risulta che la percentuale più elevata di nutrienti (70%) è contenuta nelle foglie, nei rami e nella corteccia, che corrispondono a circa il 30 % della biomassa anidra epigea (Laclau et al 2003, Scalenghe et al 2015.…”