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Anders Lindroth

Professor

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Pools and fluxes of carbon in three Norway spruce ecosystems along a climatic gradient in Sweden

Author

  • Dan Berggren Kleja
  • Magnus Svensson
  • Hooshang Majdi
  • Per-Erik Jansson
  • Ola Langvall
  • Bo Bergkvist
  • Maj-Britt Johansson
  • Per Weslien
  • Laimi Truusb
  • Anders Lindroth
  • Göran I Ågren
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Summary, in English

This paper presents an integrated analysis of organic carbon (C) pools in soils and vegetation, within-ecosystem fluxes and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in three 40-year old Norway spruce stands along a north-south climatic gradient in Sweden, measured 2001-2004. A process-orientated ecosystem model (CoupModel), previously parameterised on a regional dataset, was used for the analysis. Pools of soil organic carbon (SOC) and tree growth rates were highest at the southernmost site (1.6 and 2.0-fold, respectively). Tree litter production (litterfall and root litter) was also highest in the south, with about half coming from fine roots (< 1 mm) at all sites. However, when the litter input from the forest floor vegetation was included, the difference in total litter input rate between the sites almost disappeared (190-233 g C m(-2) year(-1)). We propose that a higher N deposition and N availability in the south result in a slower turnover of soil organic matter than in the north. This effect seems to overshadow the effect of temperature. At the southern site, 19% of the total litter input to the O horizon was leached to the mineral soil as dissolved organic carbon, while at the two northern sites the corresponding figure was approx. 9%. The CoupModel accurately described general C cycling behaviour in these ecosystems, reproducing the differences between north and south. The simulated changes in SOC pools during the measurement period were small, ranging from -8 g C m(-2) year(-1) in the north to +9 g C m(-2) year(-1) in the south. In contrast, NEE and tree growth measurements at the northernmost site suggest that the soil lost about 90 g C m(-2) year(-1).

Department/s

  • Department of Biology
  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science

Publishing year

2008

Language

English

Pages

7-25

Publication/Series

Biogeochemistry

Volume

89

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Physical Geography
  • Ecology

Keywords

  • soil carbon
  • climatic gradient
  • CoupModel
  • root
  • dissolved organic carbon
  • litter
  • boreal ecosystems

Status

Published

Project

  • Climate Initiative

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1573-515X