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Biomass Allocation in Relation to Stand Age and Density in Natural Larix gmelinii Forests in Cold Temperate China


Affiliations
1 Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, Department of Forest Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
 

Knowledge of belowground biomass allocation is largely hampered by the fact that ischolar_main biomass is difficult to measure. In this study, allometric equations relating the specific components of ischolar_main and aboveground biomass to diameter at breast height were developed for Larix gmelinii using the nested regression method. Patterns in above and belowground biomass allocation in relation to stand age and density were examined. Both ischolar_mainshoot ratio and fine ischolar_main-foliage ratio were smaller in older stands with lower density. Additionally, with increasing stand age and decreasing stand density, the proportion of foraging components (fine ischolar_main and foliage) to total tree biomass decreased, whereas, that of the structural components (stem, branch and coarse ischolar_main) increased. Differences in biomass allocation patterns between foraging and structural components of trees are considered as a driving force behind the variation in a tree structure along gradients in stand age and density. Application of these allometric equations and improved understanding of biomass partitioning patterns are expected to improve the accuracy of ecosystem carbon accounting as well as the reliability of modelling approaches.

Keywords

Biomass Allocation, Larix gmelinii, Stand Age, Stand Density, Carbon Accounting.
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  • Biomass Allocation in Relation to Stand Age and Density in Natural Larix gmelinii Forests in Cold Temperate China

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Authors

Quanquan Jia
Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, Department of Forest Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
Chunwang Luo
Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, Department of Forest Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
Qijing Liu
Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, Department of Forest Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
Shengwang Meng
Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, Department of Forest Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
Guang Zhou
Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, Department of Forest Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
Huixia Zhuang
Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation, Department of Forest Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

Abstract


Knowledge of belowground biomass allocation is largely hampered by the fact that ischolar_main biomass is difficult to measure. In this study, allometric equations relating the specific components of ischolar_main and aboveground biomass to diameter at breast height were developed for Larix gmelinii using the nested regression method. Patterns in above and belowground biomass allocation in relation to stand age and density were examined. Both ischolar_mainshoot ratio and fine ischolar_main-foliage ratio were smaller in older stands with lower density. Additionally, with increasing stand age and decreasing stand density, the proportion of foraging components (fine ischolar_main and foliage) to total tree biomass decreased, whereas, that of the structural components (stem, branch and coarse ischolar_main) increased. Differences in biomass allocation patterns between foraging and structural components of trees are considered as a driving force behind the variation in a tree structure along gradients in stand age and density. Application of these allometric equations and improved understanding of biomass partitioning patterns are expected to improve the accuracy of ecosystem carbon accounting as well as the reliability of modelling approaches.

Keywords


Biomass Allocation, Larix gmelinii, Stand Age, Stand Density, Carbon Accounting.

References