Pattern of carbon allocation across three different stages of stand development of a Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forest

The pattern of carbon (C) allocation across different stages of stand development of Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forests is poorly documented. In order to understand the effects of stand age on the C pool of the Chinese pine forest ecosystem, we have examined the above- and belowground C pools in three differently aged stands of Chinese pine in the northern mountains of Beijing, China, by plot-level inventories and destructive sampling. Our results suggest that tree branch and foliage biomass should be estimated by age-specific equations. Reasonably accurate estimates of tree stem, tree root, aboveground, and total tree biomass in a Chinese pine forest at different development stages were obtained using age-independent allometric equations from tree diameter only. The ratio of belowground to aboveground tree biomass was relatively constant with stand aging, remaining around 21 %. The contribution of aboveground tree biomass C increased from 21 % of the total ecosystem C in a 25-year-old stand to 44 % in a 65-year-old stand, subsequently falling to 41 % in a 105-year-old stand, while the contribution of mineral soil C decreased from 64 % of the total ecosystem C in 25-year-old stand to 38 % in a 65-year-old stand, subsequently increasing to 41 % in a 105-year-old stand. The C stock of the total ecosystem and its aboveground tree, tree root, forest floor, and mineral soil components continuously increased with stand ageing, whereas the C stock of the understory showed a declining trend and contributed little to the total site C pool.