Estimation of carbon stocks in ground cover in the oak, pine forests

Voronezh State University of Forestry and Technologies named after G.F. Morozov, 394087, Voronezh, Russia

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Abstract

This paper presents studies on the structural elements of biogeocenosis living ground cover vegetation for carbon cycle assessment. The ground cover is an extremely important component of forest ecosystems. Plants growing under the canopy of a forest actively participate in the production process: by assimilating carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, they create their biomass and for life remove carbon from circulation. The article carried out an assessment of carbon stocks in the living ground cover of forest ecosystems of oak and pine trees in the forest conditions of Voronezh region. The structure of the ground vegetation in oak (Quercus robur L.) and pine (Pinus silvestris L.) forests is shown to be quite specific. With the underground biomass stock exceeds the above-ground stock on all test sites laid in different plantations and conditions. The amount of carbon deposited by ground vegetation covers is 2.35 t ha^-1 for moss in pine plantations and 3.80 t ha^-1 for grass. Results show that the largest amount of living ground cover carbon stock in pine plantations is observed in April (32.24 t ha^-1), and the smallest in May (13.15 t ha^-1). The highest carbon values in oak plantations are found in underground biomass. The highest total carbon stock is in April (25.1 t ha^-1) and the lowest in May (10.8 t ha^-1).