Carbon Carbon sequestration in sequestration in

conditions of conditions of Slovak republic Slovak republic

and Danube and Danube floodplainsfloodplains

Andrej Kovarik

Country conditions of SlovakiaCountry conditions of Slovakia

Mild climate with annual average about 10°C in Mild climate with annual average about 10°C in southern partssouthern parts

Initially almost fully forested Initially almost fully forested Recently 41% landscape surface forestedRecently 41% landscape surface forested Only fragments - about 2% are floodplain forestsOnly fragments - about 2% are floodplain forests River regulation has been the principal immediate River regulation has been the principal immediate

cause of wetland loss and consequently also loss cause of wetland loss and consequently also loss of biodiversity.of biodiversity.

Most devastated and endangered forest habitatMost devastated and endangered forest habitat

khakha InitialInitial 20052005

FinalFinal ForestsForests GrasslandsGrasslands CroplandsCroplands OtherOther Final areaFinal area

ForestsForests 18801880 23,923,9 00 29,029,0 1932,91932,9

GrasslandsGrasslands 0,00,0 793,0793,0 73,573,5 26,726,7 881,5881,5

CroplandsCroplands 0,00,0 0,00,0 1409,71409,7 0,00,0 1408,71408,7

OtherOther 3535 7,07,0 46,846,8 668,6668,6 680,4680,4

19851985 Initial areaInitial area 1916,01916,0 822,0822,0 1526,01526,0 639,6639,6 4903,64903,6

Net changeNet change 16,916,9 59,559,5 -117,3-117,3 40,840,8 0,00,0

Land use matrixLand use matrix

Land use changesLand use changes

Final

Forests

Grasslands

Croplands

Other

Initial area

Net change

kha

Final

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

Forests Grasslands Croplands Other land use

Carbon sequestration in Carbon sequestration in GgGg

MethodologyMethodology,, data data sourcessources andand c calculationsalculations

Results from national forest statistics, NFI Results from national forest statistics, NFI and soil inventory (forest and agriculture and soil inventory (forest and agriculture soils)soils)

Non-CO2 gases – forest fires, liming of Non-CO2 gases – forest fires, liming of agricultural soilsagricultural soils

Calculations from lCalculations from living biomassiving biomass, s, soil oil organic Corganic C, b, biomass burningiomass burning and liming and liming

Forest land – living Forest land – living biomassbiomass

Wood increment – based on Wood increment – based on biomass biomass expansion factors (BEFs)expansion factors (BEFs) calculation calculation according to individual tree speciesaccording to individual tree species

Wood harvest Wood harvest from national forest from national forest statisticsstatistics

Calculations based on annual dataCalculations based on annual data

BEFs and C-fraction – tree BEFs and C-fraction – tree speciesspecies in Slovak conditions in Slovak conditions

      C - fractionC - fraction Biomass Conversion/ExpansionFactorBiomass Conversion/ExpansionFactor

  Tree speciesTree species    of dmof dm t dm/mt dm/m33

Picea abiesPicea abies SpruceSpruce 0.50.5 0.60.6

Abies albaAbies alba FirFir 0.50.5 0.60.6

Pinus sp.Pinus sp. PinePine 0.50.5 0.80.8

Larix deciduaLarix decidua LarchLarch 0.50.5 0.80.8

Other coniferousOther coniferous 0.50.5 0.60.6

Quecus robur, petr.Quecus robur, petr. OakOak 0.490.49 1.31.3

Fagus sylvaticaFagus sylvatica BeechBeech 0.490.49 1.21.2

Carpinus betulusCarpinus betulus HornbeamHornbeam 0.490.49 1.11.1

Acer sp.Acer sp. MapleMaple 0.490.49 1.11.1

Fraxinus excelsiorFraxinus excelsior AshAsh 0.490.49 11

Ulmus sp.Ulmus sp. ElmElm 0.490.49 11

Quercus cerrisQuercus cerris Pubescent oakPubescent oak 0.490.49 1.31.3

Robinia pseudoac.Robinia pseudoac. RobiniaRobinia 0.490.49 1.21.2

Betulus sp.Betulus sp. BirchBirch 0.490.49 0.80.8

Alnus sp.Alnus sp. AlderAlder 0.490.49 0.90.9

Tilia sp.Tilia sp. LindenLinden 0.490.49 0.80.8

Populus sp.Populus sp. PoplarPoplar 0.490.49 0.60.6

Soil organic carbonSoil organic carbon

Calculations for 4 land use changesCalculations for 4 land use changes

SOC data SOC data from national from national soil inventory soil inventory (mainly for forest and agricultural soils)(mainly for forest and agricultural soils)

Calculation units – soil typesCalculation units – soil types

Calculations based on annual dataCalculations based on annual data

Default time period T = 20 yearsDefault time period T = 20 years

SOC for land use SOC for land use and soil typesand soil types

SoilSoil Soil Carbon (t C/ha)Soil Carbon (t C/ha)

typetype Land use categoryLand use category

Forest LandForest Land GrasslandGrassland CroplandCropland Other Land*Other Land*

RegosolRegosol 88 77 66 55

RankerRanker 2727 2222 1919 1616

RendzinaRendzina 130130 104104 9191 7878

ChernozemChernozem 180180 144144 126126 108108

Fluvi-gleyic phaozemFluvi-gleyic phaozem 180180 144144 126126 108108

Orthic LuvisolOrthic Luvisol 200200 161161 141141 121121

LuvisolLuvisol 100100 8080 7070 6060

CambisolCambisol 200200 160160 140140 120120

PodzolPodzol 5353 4242 3737 3232

Albo-gleyic LuvisolAlbo-gleyic Luvisol 5757 4545 4040 3434

FluvisolFluvisol 4141 3232 2828 2424

Carbon sequestration in Carbon sequestration in floodplain forests conditionsfloodplain forests conditions

Not evalueted yet in SlovakiaNot evalueted yet in Slovakia The soil, along with geologic formations, is The soil, along with geologic formations, is

recognized asrecognized as the most stable reservoirs for the most stable reservoirs for storing Cstoring C

OOrganic carbon content is significantly greater rganic carbon content is significantly greater in hydric soils than in non-hydric soils.in hydric soils than in non-hydric soils.

Danube floodplain forests stands mostly on Danube floodplain forests stands mostly on gravel based – mineral soilsgravel based – mineral soils

Carbon content of the mineral soil is increasing Carbon content of the mineral soil is increasing with successional stage of the floodplain with successional stage of the floodplain chronosequence.chronosequence.

Increasing production of forest biomass per se Increasing production of forest biomass per se may not necessarily increase the SOC stocks.may not necessarily increase the SOC stocks.

Rate of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, Rate of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, and the magnitude and quality of soil C stock and the magnitude and quality of soil C stock depend on the complex interaction between depend on the complex interaction between climate, soils, tree species and management, and climate, soils, tree species and management, and chemical composition of the litterchemical composition of the litter

In disturbed sites, for instance suitable for re-In disturbed sites, for instance suitable for re-naturalization, regression analyses indicates that naturalization, regression analyses indicates that it may take over 50 years for carbon levels to it may take over 50 years for carbon levels to reach 75% of levels on reference site reach 75% of levels on reference site

Many parts of the Danube floodplainsMany parts of the Danube floodplains are are managed as intensive hybrid poplar plantationmanaged as intensive hybrid poplar plantationss

MonocultureMonoculturess ha hadd reduced biodiversity reduced biodiversity significantly - plantations provides habitat only for significantly - plantations provides habitat only for some species, often some species, often non-native non-native and invasive and invasive ones.ones.

Connection with wetlandsConnection with wetlands wetlands which are closely connected with wetlands which are closely connected with

floodplain forests, comprise a small proportion of floodplain forests, comprise a small proportion of earth’s terrestrial surface, but they contain a earth’s terrestrial surface, but they contain a significant proportion of terrestrial carbon poolsignificant proportion of terrestrial carbon pool

Always thing of both! Always thing of both! SSignificant amount of carbon stored in wetland ignificant amount of carbon stored in wetland

soils, peats, litter, and vegetation – 500 – 700 GT soils, peats, litter, and vegetation – 500 – 700 GT globaly. Globaly the ammount stglobaly. Globaly the ammount stoored in wetlands red in wetlands may approach the total amount of atmospheric may approach the total amount of atmospheric carbon that is estimated at 753 GTcarbon that is estimated at 753 GT!!

wetlands growing on mineral soils wetlands growing on mineral soils associated with riverine systems - like associated with riverine systems - like here here iin Danube n Danube floodplainsfloodplains, have , have typically higher productivity and standing typically higher productivity and standing biomassbiomass (so also carbon sequestration) (so also carbon sequestration) than fens and bogs which have organic than fens and bogs which have organic soils. soils.

Carbon fluxes – inputsCarbon fluxes – inputs

Organic matter, derived from either aboveground Organic matter, derived from either aboveground and belowground biomass production, and belowground biomass production, iis the s the principal source of soil carbon. principal source of soil carbon.

Litter production in bottomland hardwood forests Litter production in bottomland hardwood forests is usually about half of aboveground net primary is usually about half of aboveground net primary productivity (NPP)productivity (NPP)

Range of Range of abovegroundaboveground NPP of bottomland NPP of bottomland hardwood forests, temperate wetland forests and hardwood forests, temperate wetland forests and floodplain forests is similar – from 20 to 2000g/mfloodplain forests is similar – from 20 to 2000g/m22

Aboveground NPPAboveground NPP

Forest floor organic matter increases rapidly during Forest floor organic matter increases rapidly during early secondary succession, with a maximum of about early secondary succession, with a maximum of about 700 g/m2 and decreasing to 340 g/m2 during the later 700 g/m2 and decreasing to 340 g/m2 during the later seral stages.seral stages.

Carbon content in the forest floor also reflects this Carbon content in the forest floor also reflects this pattern, with levels greatest during early succession pattern, with levels greatest during early succession and declining thereafterand declining thereafter

Changes in carbon pools of the forest floor are Changes in carbon pools of the forest floor are primarily driven by changing levels of forest floor primarily driven by changing levels of forest floor biomass in the various stages of succession, rather biomass in the various stages of succession, rather than element concentrations.than element concentrations.

Herbaceous material declines during succession Herbaceous material declines during succession from about 75% in an early stage to <1% in the from about 75% in an early stage to <1% in the latest seral stagelatest seral stage

Conversely, the amount of woody foliage increased Conversely, the amount of woody foliage increased from 6.7 to more than 70% in late succession.from 6.7 to more than 70% in late succession.

Aboveground net primary production (NPP) in young Aboveground net primary production (NPP) in young riparian forests rapidly approached and exceeded riparian forests rapidly approached and exceeded NPP of the more mature riparian forest.NPP of the more mature riparian forest.

Woody debris in these riparian forests comprised a Woody debris in these riparian forests comprised a relatively small carbon pool.relatively small carbon pool.

Aboveground NPPAboveground NPP

BelowgroundBelowground organic matter inputs are important organic matter inputs are important source of soil carbon. source of soil carbon.

Range of belowground NPP varies according local Range of belowground NPP varies according local hydrological conditions from about 10 to 110 %.hydrological conditions from about 10 to 110 %.

Stump and root biomass may reach as much as 90 Stump and root biomass may reach as much as 90 %% of of the belowground biomass.the belowground biomass.

Important wetland, bottomland hardwood and floodplain Important wetland, bottomland hardwood and floodplain forests soil component is mycorrhizal fungi. forests soil component is mycorrhizal fungi.

Poorly drained soils have significantly higher rates of Poorly drained soils have significantly higher rates of mycorrhizal fungi infection and greater belowground mycorrhizal fungi infection and greater belowground allocation of carbon than in better drained soils. allocation of carbon than in better drained soils.

CCarbon storage in short-arbon storage in short-rotation poplar plantationsrotation poplar plantations

higher soil C sequestration rates in plantation higher soil C sequestration rates in plantation culture than in natural systems due to the higher culture than in natural systems due to the higher planting densities of faster growing trees putting planting densities of faster growing trees putting greater greater quantities of C into the soilquantities of C into the soil

SStudies have acknowledged the possibility of soil tudies have acknowledged the possibility of soil C accumulations in rotations for up to 30 years.C accumulations in rotations for up to 30 years.

As rotation length shortens, gain in soil C can As rotation length shortens, gain in soil C can decrease and cause a long-term decline in soil Cdecrease and cause a long-term decline in soil C

Various patterns of change in soil C observed Various patterns of change in soil C observed NNet losses in soil C during the initial years of et losses in soil C during the initial years of

tree crop establishment, but increases tree crop establishment, but increases after after about 5 years growth of about 5 years growth of hybridhybrid poplarspoplars

RRate of soil C sequestration in short rotation ate of soil C sequestration in short rotation plantations would equal or surpass naturally plantations would equal or surpass naturally regenerating woodlands.regenerating woodlands.

BROZ in Danube floodplainsBROZ in Danube floodplains

ChangingChanging of forest managementof forest management

Leaving of dead woodLeaving of dead wood

Designation of new nature Designation of new nature reservesreserves

Afforestation of arable landAfforestation of arable land

Restoration of grasslandsRestoration of grasslands

Restoration of wetlandsRestoration of wetlands

ConclusionConclusion

There are environmental implications for the There are environmental implications for the use of Populus and other short rotation use of Populus and other short rotation intensive culture crops in sequestering intensive culture crops in sequestering atmospheric C by storing it in terrestrial atmospheric C by storing it in terrestrial poolspools

butbut in respect to biodiversity, in respect to biodiversity, and real and real nature conservancy,nature conservancy, only on new unforested only on new unforested sites – for example on agrisoils along the sites – for example on agrisoils along the rivers.rivers.

Thank you for your Thank you for your attentionattention

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