Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
between 68.6 and 79.8 Mg C ha
−
1
at 0 and 10 years for poplar plantations. It
can be estimated that this pool represents 53 and 48 % of total ecosystem car-
bon stock at the end of the rotation period (Fig.
13.3
). Considering all the area
covered by such forest plantations, mean soil carbon stock changes were 0.4 and
1.1 Mg C ha
−
1
y
−
1
(13 and 9 % of total annual carbon sequestration) for mixed
broadleaf and poplar plantations, respectively.
Mean annual soil carbon sequestration measured in this study is between the
values reported by Rodeghiero (
2006
) (0.33 Mg C ha
−
1
y
−
1
) and by Bouwman
and Leemans (
1995
) (1.6 Mg C ha
−
1
y
−
1
). Moreover, final soil carbon stock
change (
+
14,
+
16 %) estimated at the end of the rotation period (30 and 10 years
for mixed broadleaf and poplar plantations, respectively) is well within the range
reported by Guo and Gifford (
2002
) in their comprehensive review (
+
18 %).
13.4 Conclusions
Overall, mixed broadleaf and poplar plantations in Friuli Venezia Giulia have
a standing carbon stock of 223,400 and 397,753 Mg C, respectively. Soil is
the largest carbon pool in both plantation types (60 and 63 % of total ecosys-
tem carbon stock, respectively). Total annual carbon sequestration is 8,855 and
40,286 Mg C y
−
1
with soil contributing for 13 and 9 % in broadleaf and poplar
plantation, respectively.
These results highlight the importance of forest plantations for carbon seques-
tration at regional level. However, it should be noted that maximum NPP is
reached quite early in the absence of an adequate management (i.e. thinnings).
However, our data suggest that short rotation period (less than 12 years) can
maximize the carbon sequestration potential of both mixed broadleaf and poplar
plantations.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Diego Chiab￠ and Gabriele Pingitore for
the help in the data collection and lab analysis.
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