Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 644-653 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science |
| Volume | 173 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Riparian forests are assumed to play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. However, little data are available on C stocks of floodplains in comparison to other terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we quantified the C stocks of aboveground biomass and soils of riparian vegetation types at 76 sampling sites in the Donau-Auen National Park in Austria. Based on our results and a remotely sensed vegetation map, we estimated total C stocks. Carbon stocks in soils (up to 354 t ha-1 within 1 m below surface) were huge compared to other terrestrial ecosystems. As expected, soils of different vegetation types showed different texture with a higher percentage of sandy soils at the softwood sites, while loamy soils prevailed at hardwood sites. Total C stocks of vegetation types were significantly different, but reflect differences in woody plant biomass rather than in soil C stocks. Mature hardwood and cottonwood forests proved to have significantly higher total C stocks (474 and 403 t ha-1, respectively) than young reforestations (217 t ha-1) and meadows (212 t ha-1). The C pools of softwood forests (356 t ha-1) ranged between those of hardwood/cottonwood forests and of reforestations/meadows. Our study proves the relevance of floodplains as possible C sinks, which should be increasingly taken into account for river management. Furthermore, we conclude that plant-species distribution does not indicate the conditions of sedimentation and soil C sequestration over the time span of interest for the development of soil C stocks.
Keywords
- Carbon stocks, Donau-Auen National Park, Fluvial ecosystems, Organic carbon, Riparian forest
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Plant Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Vol. 173, No. 5, 10.2010, p. 644-653.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Carbon stocks of soil and vegetation on Danubian floodplains
AU - Cierjacks, Arne
AU - Kleinschmit, Birgit
AU - Babinsky, Maren
AU - Kleinschroth, Fritz
AU - Markert, Arvid
AU - Menzel, Markus
AU - Ziechmann, Ulrike
AU - Schiller, Theresa
AU - Graf, Markus
AU - Lang, Friederike
PY - 2010/10
Y1 - 2010/10
N2 - Riparian forests are assumed to play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. However, little data are available on C stocks of floodplains in comparison to other terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we quantified the C stocks of aboveground biomass and soils of riparian vegetation types at 76 sampling sites in the Donau-Auen National Park in Austria. Based on our results and a remotely sensed vegetation map, we estimated total C stocks. Carbon stocks in soils (up to 354 t ha-1 within 1 m below surface) were huge compared to other terrestrial ecosystems. As expected, soils of different vegetation types showed different texture with a higher percentage of sandy soils at the softwood sites, while loamy soils prevailed at hardwood sites. Total C stocks of vegetation types were significantly different, but reflect differences in woody plant biomass rather than in soil C stocks. Mature hardwood and cottonwood forests proved to have significantly higher total C stocks (474 and 403 t ha-1, respectively) than young reforestations (217 t ha-1) and meadows (212 t ha-1). The C pools of softwood forests (356 t ha-1) ranged between those of hardwood/cottonwood forests and of reforestations/meadows. Our study proves the relevance of floodplains as possible C sinks, which should be increasingly taken into account for river management. Furthermore, we conclude that plant-species distribution does not indicate the conditions of sedimentation and soil C sequestration over the time span of interest for the development of soil C stocks.
AB - Riparian forests are assumed to play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. However, little data are available on C stocks of floodplains in comparison to other terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we quantified the C stocks of aboveground biomass and soils of riparian vegetation types at 76 sampling sites in the Donau-Auen National Park in Austria. Based on our results and a remotely sensed vegetation map, we estimated total C stocks. Carbon stocks in soils (up to 354 t ha-1 within 1 m below surface) were huge compared to other terrestrial ecosystems. As expected, soils of different vegetation types showed different texture with a higher percentage of sandy soils at the softwood sites, while loamy soils prevailed at hardwood sites. Total C stocks of vegetation types were significantly different, but reflect differences in woody plant biomass rather than in soil C stocks. Mature hardwood and cottonwood forests proved to have significantly higher total C stocks (474 and 403 t ha-1, respectively) than young reforestations (217 t ha-1) and meadows (212 t ha-1). The C pools of softwood forests (356 t ha-1) ranged between those of hardwood/cottonwood forests and of reforestations/meadows. Our study proves the relevance of floodplains as possible C sinks, which should be increasingly taken into account for river management. Furthermore, we conclude that plant-species distribution does not indicate the conditions of sedimentation and soil C sequestration over the time span of interest for the development of soil C stocks.
KW - Carbon stocks
KW - Donau-Auen National Park
KW - Fluvial ecosystems
KW - Organic carbon
KW - Riparian forest
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650472372&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jpln.200900209
DO - 10.1002/jpln.200900209
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78650472372
VL - 173
SP - 644
EP - 653
JO - Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
JF - Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
SN - 1436-8730
IS - 5
ER -