Biogeosciences
www.biogeosciences.net
1726-4170
1726-4189
4
5
2007
10.5194/bg-4-891-2007
http://www.biogeosciences.net/4/891/2007/
http://www.biogeosciences.net/4/891/2007/bg-4-891-2007.html
http://www.biogeosciences.net/4/891/2007/bg-4-891-2007.pdf
891
904
2007-10-24
Biogeochemical factors contributing to enhanced carbon storage following afforestation of a semi-arid shrubland
J. M. Grünzweig
jose@agri.huji.ac.il
I. Gelfand
Y. Fried
D. Yakir
Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Ecosystems in dry regions are generally low in productivity and carbon (C)
storage. We report, however, large increases in C sequestration following
afforestation of a semi-arid shrubland with <i>Pinus halepensis</i> trees. Using C and nitrogen (N)
inventories, based in part on site-specific allometric equations, we
measured an increase in the standing ecosystem C stock from 2380 g C m<sup>−2</sup>
in the shrubland to 5840 g C m<sup>−2</sup> in the forest after 35 years,
with no significant change in N stocks. Carbon sequestration following
afforestation was associated with increased N use efficiency as reflected
by an overall increase in C/N ratio from 7.6 in the shrubland to 16.6 in the
forest. The C accumulation rate in the forest was particularly high for soil
organic C (SOC; increase of 1760 g C m<sup>−2</sup> or 50 g C m<sup>−2</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>),
which was associated with the following factors: 1) Analysis of a small
<sup>13</sup>C signal within this pure C<sub>3</sub> system combined with size
fractionation of soil organic matter indicated a significant addition of new
SOC derived from forest vegetation (68% of total forest SOC) and a
considerable portion of the old original shrubland SOC (53%) still
remaining in the forest. 2) A large part of both new and old SOC appeared to
be protected from decomposition as about 60% of SOC under both land-use
types were in mineral-associated fractions. 3) A short-term decomposition
study indicated decreased decomposition of lower-quality litter and SOC in
the forest, based on reduced decay rates of up to 90% for forest compared
to shrubland litter. 4) Forest soil included a significant component of live
and dead roots (12% of total SOC). Our results suggest a role for
increased N use efficiency, enhanced SOC protection and reduced
decomposition rates in the large C sequestration potential following
afforestation in semi-arid regions. These results are particularly relevant
in light of persistent predictions of drying trends in the Mediterranean and
other regions.
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