Optimal management of Korean pine plantations in multifunctional forestry

Korean pine is one of the most important plantation species in northeast China. Besides timber, it produces edible nuts and plantations sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This study optimized the management of Korean pine plantations for timber production, seed production, carbon sequestration and for the joint production of multiple benefits. As the first step, models were developed for stand dynamics and seed production. These models were used in a simulation-optimization system to find optimal timing and type of thinning treatments and optimal rotation lengths. It was found that three thinnings during the rotation period were optimal. When the amount or profitability of timber production is maximized, suitable rotation lengths are 65-70 years and wood production is 5.5-6.0 m(3) ha(-1) a(-1). The optimal thinning regime is thinning from above. In seed production, optimal rotation lengths are over 100 years. When carbon sequestration in living biomass is maximized, stands should not be clear-cut until trees start to die due to senescence. In the joint production of multiple benefits, the optimal rotation length is 86 years if all benefits (wood, economic profits, seed, carbon sequestration) are equally important. In this management schedule, mean annual wood production is 5.5 m(2) ha(-1) and mean annual seed yield 141 kg ha(-1). It was concluded that it is better to produce timber and seeds in the same stands rather than assign stands to either timber production or seed production.

Intra-and inter-species variations in carbon content of 14 major tree species in Northeast China

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the major challenges in combating global warming.Carbon,including in the form of carbon dioxide(CO_(2)),is considered an essential greenhouse gas under human control to demonstrate success in emission reductions.However,many carbon stock quantifications in forest ecosystems still rely on the estimated 50%carbon content instead of more precise species-,tissue-and site-specific values.Thus,this study aimed to thoroughly measure and analyze the carbon content and variability using the 14 major tree species in Northeast China.Over 600 trees were destructively sampled from three different major mountainous regions(i.e.,the Changbai,Daxing’an,and Xiaoxing’an mountains),and the carbon contents of each species were precisely measured to the sub-tissue level.Carbon contents varied significantly between species,with foliage carbon mostly found to be the highest,while root carbon contents were the lowest.Average carbon contents can be ranked as:Ulmus laciniata(43.4%)<Phellodendron amurense(43.5%)<Acer mono(43.8%)<Tilia amurensis(44.2%)<Populus davidiana(44.5%)<Fraxinus mandshurica(44.7%)<Juglans mandshurica(44.9%)<Quercus mongolica(45.3%)<Betulla davurica(45.8%)<Betulla platyphylla(46.7%)<Picea koreansis(46.9%)<Larix gmelinii(47.4%)<Pinus koreansis(48.3%)<Abies nephrolepis(48.3%).Carbon contents were higher in conifers(47.7%)compared to broadleaf species(44.9%).In addition,both tree tissues and growing sites also had a significant effect on carbon content.At the sub-tissue level,only stem’s sub-tissues(i.e.,bark,heartwood,and sapwood)carbon contents showed significant variations.The results suggest that bark should be separated from other stem sub-tissues and considered separately when determining carbon stocks.This research contributes to improving estimates of terrestrial carbon quantifications,and in particular,the values obtained can be used in China’s National Forest Inventory.

Erratum to: Optimal management of Korean pine plantations in multifunctional forestry

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