Comparison of carbon sequestration and soil/litter characteristics in black pine and maritime pine afforestation areas in the Western Black Sea Region

Abstract

Land use and land use change can positively or negatively affect carbon and nutrient stocks in ecosystems. This study was carried out to determine the effects of afforestation with black pine and maritime pine species on carbon stocks and soil and litter characteristics. The study was conducted on afforestation areas and adjacent bare lands in Bartın-Ulus county, located in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. Three sample plots of 20×20 m were taken from each land use and the diameter at breast height and tree heights in these sample plots were measured Using the diameter and height values and the biomass equations and carbon ratios developed for the relevant tree species, the tree biomass and carbon stock per unit area were calculated. Then, disturbed and undisturbed soil samples and litter samples were taken from 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depth intervals at three points in each sample plot. The physical and chemical properties of the soil and litter samples were determined in the laboratory and measurements in the sample plots were converted to a unit area. The data were evaluated using independent sample t-tests and analysis of variance. The results showed that afforestation significantly changed N, S, P, Fe, Zn, and Cu concentrations in the soil; and C, S, Mn, and Zn concentrations in black pine and maritime pine forest floor were different. Besides, the ecosystem carbon (C) stocks differed significantly with forest land use type; black pine plantations, maritime pine plantations and bare land accumulated 148 t C ha-1, 89 t C ha-1 and 27 t C ha-1, respectively. Thus, we suggest that priority should be given to black pine in afforestation of the region and in other ecosystems with similar climates. The results of the research can be used in species selection for afforestation studies in terms of reducing the impact of global climate change.

Keywords

• land-use change
• pinus nigra
• pinus pinaster
• ecosystem
• carbon pools
• arazi kullanım değişikliği
• pinus nigra
• pinus pinaster
• ekosistem
• karbon havuzları