HR: 1330h
AN: B42A-0940    [PDF]
TI: Soil Carbon Budget During Establishment of Short Rotation Woody Crops
AU: * Coleman, M D
EM: mcoleman@ifx.net
AF: USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, USFS Savannah River PO Box 700, New Ellenton, SC 29809 United States
AB: Carbon budgets were monitored following forest harvest and during re-establishment of short rotation woody crops. Soil CO$_{2}$ efflux was monitored using infared gas analyzer methods, fine root production was estimated with minirhizotrons, above ground litter inputs were trapped, coarse root inputs were estimated with developed allometric relationships, and soil carbon pools were measured in loblolly pine and cottonwood plantations. Our carbon budget allows evaluation of errors, as well as quantifying pools and fluxes in developing stands during non-steady-state conditions. Soil CO$_{2}$ efflux was larger than the combined inputs from aboveground litter fall and root production. Fine-root production increased during stand development; however, mortality was not yet equivalent to production, showing the belowground carbon budget was not yet in equilibrium and root carbon standing crop was accruing. Belowground production was greater in cottonwood than pine, but the level of pine soil CO$_{2}$ efflux was equal to or greater than that of cottonwood, indicating heterotrophic respiration was higher for pine. Comparison of unaccounted efflux with soil organic carbon changes provides verification of loss or accrual.
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
DE: 0614 Biological effects
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting