Thinning effects on stand growth, carbon stocks, and soil properties in Brutia pine plantations

Abstract

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thinning on stand growth, carbon (C) sequestration, and soil properties in Brutia pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) plantations. The study was conducted at two experimental sites -the Antalya-Kaş and Isparta-Eğirdir plantation areas- in Turkey between 1985 and 2015. Different thinning intensities -unthinned (control), moderate, and heavy- were replicated in four blocks. We determined the C in the living biomass, litter, soil, and some soil features for each experimental parcel. Results We found no statistically significant difference in total stand volume between thinning-intensity treatments 30 years after thinning. This may be due to more light availability and less competition between trees and faster tree-diameter growth rate after thinning, thus explaining the volume in the treated parcels compared to the control over time. The C stocks in the biomass, litter, and soil were not significantly influenced by the thinning intensity. The nutrients in the litter and soil, and other soil properties, were not significantly different among thinning parcels. This implies that the C and other nutrients in the litter and soil are related to the stand volume and biomass, which were not changed by thinning in time. Conclusion This finding is important in terms of showing that there was no change in total stand volume by thinning, which has been debated in the literature. This information is useful for forest managers when determining thinning strategy.

The Dynamics and Potential of Carbon Stocks as an Indicator of Sustainable Development for Forest Bioeconomy in Ghana

“…Living plants, through photosynthetic processes, transform CO 2 to biomass by dissipating the carbon in the atmosphere and reserving it in the plant tissues and soils [12,13]. In agricultural or forest ecosystems, the generated biomass is specifically stocked as aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), dead wood, litter, and soil organic matter [14][15][16]. Forest plants and forest ecosystems including soils are key carbon sinks and sources [17][18][19][20][21] and have significant impacts on the realization of many sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, and SDG 15 [22].…”

Characteristics of soil organic carbon fractions in four vegetation communities of an inland salt marsh

“…Soil active organic carbon is an important part of soil organic carbon, which can reflect the sensitivity of the soil carbon pool. The plant community injects photosynthally fixed organic carbon into soil through litter, turnover of fine roots, and root exudates [ 39 , 40 ]. The quantity and quality of litter transported to the soil by different vegetation types and the root exudates were different, resulting in significant differences in soil active carbon components (MBC, EOC, DOC, and POC) in different soil layers of different plant communities [ 41 ].…”

Enhancing Forest Sustainability: A Comprehensive Exploration of Thinning Practices and their Effects on Soil Chemical and Biochemical Properties

“…Erkan et al in Brutia pine plantations, evidenced that C stocks in the litter, and soil were not significantly influenced by the thinning intensity [39]. The nutrients in the litter and soil, and other soil properties, were not significantly different among thinning parcels.…”

“…Findings from Settineri et al [20], revealed that high thinning intensity had the most significant impact on increasing the stable fraction of soil organic matter (SOM) and the humification ratio. This indicates a higher degree of humification and a greater CEC [39]. Ma et al highlight that the specific effects of thinning intensity on soil chemical properties can vary based on factors such as initial soil conditions, tree species, climate, and site management practices [15].…”