Direct and Indirect Assessment of Carbon Stock in Deadwood: Comparison in Calabrian Pine (Pinus brutia Ten. subsp. brutia) Forests in Italy. Issue 4 (15th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Meo, Isabella; Lagomarsino, Alessandra; Agnelli, Alessandro Elio; Paletto, Alessandro
• Is Part Of: Forest science. Volume 65:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 460
• Page End: 468
• Publication Date: 2018-11-15
• Subjects: carbon allocation -- coarse woody debris -- decomposition -- forest management practices -- sustainable forest management planning; Forests and forestry -- Periodicals; Forest management -- Periodicals; Forest policy -- United States -- Periodicals; Forest management; Forest policy; Forests and forestry; United States; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 634.9
• DOI: 10.1093/forsci/fxy051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0015-749X

Abstract

Abstract: Deadwood is a key element in forest ecosystems contributing to biodiversity conservation, carbon (C) stocking and cycling, and nutrient inputs to soil. Forest management has an important role to maintain deadwood temporary C stock by regulating the amount of deadwood in forests during harvesting operations. Deadwood C stocks can be estimated directly, by measuring C concentration in deadwood samples, or indirectly, by converting the biomass into the amount of C stored in the deadwood. The aim of the study was (1) to compare direct and indirect methods for deadwood C stocks estimation; (2) to determine differences between the two methods; and (3) to evaluate the most appropriate, easiest, and least expensive method depending on specific circumstances. The investigation was implemented in a Calabrian pine ( Pinus brutia Ten. subsp. brutia ) forest located in Central Italy. In 18 sample plots, deadwood biomass was measured separately by component (logs, snags, stumps) and decay class. During a field survey, 150 deadwood samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory for moisture content, mass determination, and direct and indirect estimation of C content. The results showed small differences in the estimation of deadwood C stock using direct and indirect methods. We propose that indirect estimation of C stock, which is less demanding of time and monetary resources, can replace direct estimation, and using the same coefficient for different deadwood components and decay classes produces reliable estimates.