Dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) content in stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in central Europe

Becvárová, P.; Horváth, M.; Šarapatka, B.; Zouhar, Václav

doi:10.3832/ifor2521-011

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(55 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition to its beneficial climatic effect, SOC sequestration also benefits overall soil properties for which cultivation of perennial crops is considered one suitable method (among others) for this purpose (Blanco‐Canqui et al, 2013). Thus, if biogenic CO 2 had been accounted for, the environmental performances of the insulation materials made from wood (Bečvářová et al, 2018) and from miscanthus (McCalmont et al, 2017) would have particularly benefitted. However, in addition to direct land use change (dLUC), the cultivation of the feedstock can also induce indirect land use change (iLUC).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative life cycle assessment of bio‐based insulation materials: Environmental and economic performances

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Insulation materials decrease the final energy consumption of buildings. In Germany, fossil and mineral insulations dominate the market despite numerous life cycle assessments (LCAs) showing that bio‐based insulations can offer environmental benefits. Evaluating the results of such LCAs is, however, complex due to a lack of comparability or costs considered. The objective of this study is comparing bio‐based insulations under equal conditions to identify the most environmentally friendly and cost‐efficient material. For this purpose, a comparative LCA and life cycle costing (LCC) were conducted from “cradle to grave” for four bio‐based and two nonrenewable insulations. The bio‐based insulation materials evaluated were wood fiber, hemp fiber, flax, and miscanthus. The nonrenewable insulations were expanded polystyrene (EPS) and stone wool. Key data for the LCA of the bio‐based insulations were obtained from preceding thermal conductivity measurements under ceteris paribus conditions. Eighteen environmental impact categories were assessed, and direct costs were cumulated along the life cycle. Results show that the most environmentally friendly bio‐based insulation materials were wood fiber and miscanthus. A hotspot analysis found that, for agriculturally sourced insulations, cultivation had the largest environmental impact, and for wood fiber insulation, it was manufacturing. The use phase (including installation) constituted a cost hotspot. The environmental impacts of end‐of‐life incineration were strongly influenced by the fossil components of the materials. Overall, bio‐based insulations were more environmentally friendly than EPS and stone wool in 11 impact categories. The LCC found EPS and miscanthus insulation to be most cost‐efficient, yet market integration of the latter is still limited. It can be concluded that miscanthus biomass is an environmentally and economically promising bio‐based insulation material. Comparability of the environmental performance of the bio‐based insulations was increased by applying the same system boundary and functional unit, the same impact assessment methodology, and the preceding ceteris paribus thermal conductivity measurements.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative life cycle assessment of bio‐based insulation materials: Environmental and economic performances

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The C stocks in the soil declines when there is a change in the production cycle. Restoring the SOC pool to the level accumulated in the previous production cycle requires about 50 year-long period of stand growth (Stevens and van Wesemael, 2008) and, afterwards, the C stocks increases with the increasing stand age (Seely et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2017;Bečvářová et al, 2018). Conversely, Chen et al (2013) suggest that the SOC stocks in the surface soil layer achieve a steady level after ca.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in organic carbon stocks in soils under Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in northern Poland over 26 years

Porębska¹,

Borzyszkowski²,

Gozdowski³

2021

Soil Sci. Ann.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The impact of forest naturalness and tree species composition on soil organic carbon content in areas with unnatural occurrence of Norway spruce in the Czech Republic

Horváth¹,

Becvárová²,

Šarapatka³

et al. 2022

Soil & Water Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Climate change has increased attention paid in the research to forest soils and tree species composition, in respect to the potential for carbon sequestration. It is known that forest stands are able to store soil organic carbon (SOC), but little is known about the effect of forest naturalness on SOC content. This is important in relation of dying of unnatural spruce stands. It is necessary to determine a suitable composition of tree species which will replace them. This research is based on 248 plots with oak, beech, and spruce stands and mixtures of these species, with measured values of SOC. Our results show that autochthonous and mixed stands, in terms of tree species composition, in the study area had a higher SOC content than allochthonous and pure stands. In addition, it was found that autochthonous oak and beech stands, especially in mixtures, had a higher SOC content than allochthonous spruce stands (monocultures). On the basis of the presented results, it is possible to optimize the future tree species composition of stands in the study area, which currently have an allochthonous representation of spruce, to provide better function of carbon sequestration and resistance to climate change.

show abstract

Dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) content in stands of Norway spruce (Picea abies) in central Europe

Cited by 3 publications

References 35 publications

Comparative life cycle assessment of bio‐based insulation materials: Environmental and economic performances

Comparative life cycle assessment of bio‐based insulation materials: Environmental and economic performances

Changes in organic carbon stocks in soils under Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands in northern Poland over 26 years

The impact of forest naturalness and tree species composition on soil organic carbon content in areas with unnatural occurrence of Norway spruce in the Czech Republic

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About