Spatiotemporal variation of carbon stocks and fluxes at a clear-cut area in central Sweden

Abstract: Forests have a large role in the global carbon cycle. Forest management could play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. With a growing demand for renewable energy the forest could contribute. Stumps are one of the potential energy sources from the forest. In this study a pine dominated clear-cut area was surveyed in regard of stump biomass, carbon fluxes and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks. Stumps were positioned and measured, and the remaining biomass on the site was calculated. With a mobile soil respiration system soil respiration measurements were conducted. The area held a biomass of 50.3 ton/ha, representing 18% of pre-harvest forest biomass. The clear-cut area held large stocks of both carbon and nitrogen, 14 kg C/m2 and 0.48 kg N/m2 respectively. The mean soil respiration rate was 2.48 μmol m-2 s-1, which is consistent with both eddy covariance measurements and similar earlier studies at the site. Soil respiration rates in relation to soil temperature, disturbance and C and N stocks were examined but no distinct correlation could be found.