Tree stand biomass and carbon content in an age sequence of drained pine mires in southern Finland

Biomass and carbon accumulation into tree stand and distribution between tree stand components was studied in two undrained and four drained Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominated peatland stands in southern Finland. On the drained sites, the amount and distribution of biomass above-ground was rather similar to pine-dominated stands on upland sites when drainage age of the site was thought to represent the stand age. The proportion of estimated below-ground biomass of the total pine biomass was ca. 30% on all sites studied which is mon than on upland sites with supposedly similar growth potential. Due to the bigger amount of below-ground biomass, there is, on average, more biomass and thus also carbon in relation to stem volume in peatland stands than upland stands, when southern boreal Scots pine stands are examined. Equations for estimating the amount of carbon accumulating in the tree stand along with increasing stem volume are presented. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.