Publication Details

Year Published

2022

Publication

Forest Science

Abstract

Temperate forests play an important role in the sequestration and storage of carbon. We evaluated the long-term effects of manipulating stand density on aboveground live tree carbon dynamics and volume production for separate pine (Pinus spp.) and oak (Quercus spp.) forests of central USA. For both species groups, stand-level carbon storage in standing live trees was greatest without management, with unthinned pine plateauing around 100 Mg/ha of carbon at approximately 50 years old and the oak stands increasing to around 100 Mg/ha of carbon by about 80 years old. In the pine stands, stand-level carbon sequestration was greatest in stands that were thinned but maintained fully stocked conditions. Consequently, the gross carbon that accumulated during the study period, which included standing carbon in live trees and carbon from trees that were harvested or otherwise died, was maximized when stand stocking was maintained at an average of around 80% stocking during the study period. These results were compatible with the production of sawtimber volume, which was greatest for stands that were maintained in fully stocked but not overstocked conditions. Our results demonstrate that thinning can be a forest management strategy to achieve multiple objectives, including those for carbon management and sawtimber production.

Keywords

Citation

Anderson, Samantha; Knapp, Benjamin O; Kabrick, John M. 2022. Stand-Density Effects on Aboveground Carbon Dynamics in Secondary Pinus and Quercus Forests of Central USA . Forest Science. 2022. 15 p. https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxac053.