Linking Forest Vegetation and Soil Carbon Stock in Northwestern Russia

Abstract

Research Highlights: It was found that both tree species and ground vegetation affected soil carbon stock in boreal forests. Carbon stocks in the mineral layers were related negatively to the C/N ratio in the organic horizon and pine proportion in the growing stock volume, and positively to the share of herbaceous plants and the proportion of spruce. Background and Objectives: Existing research showed the effects of tree species on soil carbon stocks in organic horizons, but these effects were less clear in mineral horizons. Little is known about the effects of ground vegetation on soil carbon stock. This study aims to identify associations between the forest vegetation composition and soil carbon stocks in northwestern Russia. Materials and Methods: Research data from 109 pine, spruce and birch forests of different Cajander’s and Sukachev’s types with different functional compositions of ground vegetation at autonomous positions are discussed in this paper. The V-test was used to assess the impact of vegetation on soil carbon stocks. Results: Variations in Carbon stocks in the mineral layers were associated with the soil types and vegetation composition. Carbic Albic Podzols accumulated the least amount of carbon in the mineral profile. Carbon stock in the mineral layers in pine forests was considerably lower than in spruce and birch forests. Spruce forests with the highest share of herbaceous plants were characterised by the highest carbon stocks in the mineral layers, while pine forests with dwarf shrubs and green mosses accumulated more carbon in the organic layers, but carbon stocks in the mineral layers here were the lowest. Conclusions: Differences in soil carbon stocks between and within northern and middle taiga in northwestern Russia were associated not only with soil types but also with the proportions of forest types dominated by different tree species and ground vegetation functional groups.

Boreal tree species change as a climate mitigation strategy: impact on ecosystem C and N stocks and soil nutrient levels

“…The positive correlation between the LFH horizon of the spruce stand and standing dead wood may suggest increased input of litter to the LFH horizon from the dying crown compartment, which support the SOC accumulation in the LFH layer. Altogether, this may affect the stocks as well as the stability of the SOC (Vesterdal et al 2013, Lukina et al 2020, and thus the long-term storage of SOC in the forest N is the major limiting factor for tree growth in boreal forests, and N limitation typically constrains the buildup of C (Tamm 1991(Tamm , H ögberg et al 2017. Contrary to our hypothesis, the tree species change did not significantly increase the total N stocks in the soil down to 1 m soil depth, nor did the planting of Norway spruce promote an allocation of N from the mineral soil to the forest floor.…”

Linking Vegetation, Soil Carbon Stocks, and Earthworms in Upland Coniferous–Broadleaf Forests

“…However, soil carbon stock also depends on biotic factors, such as vegetation and soil biota. It has been shown that in forests of different types, variation in soil carbon stocks was related to the species composition of tree plants [1] and ground vegetation [4]. However, the question arises, what is the combined effect of different woody and herb plant species on carbon stocks?…”

Effects of Urban Forest Types and Traits on Soil Organic Carbon Stock in Beijing

“…The direct pathway of trees interacting with soil includes both leaf litter input and root release. The litterfall from woody plants is the main source of soil organic matter [27][28][29][30][31]. Tree species vary significantly in their litter quality, as well as in their litter decomposition rates [32].…”