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Forest Ecosystems 2019, 6(3): 26 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-019-0185-z
Research | Open Access | Issue | Published: 13 May 2019

Effects of prescribed burning on carbon accumulation in two paired vegetation sites in subtropical China

Show Author's Information Yuanqi Chen1,2,3,  Jianbo Cao2,4,  Lixia Zhou2,  Feng Li2,4,  Shenglei Fu5( )
Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Clean-utilization and Mine Environment Protection, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Safe Utilization of Heavy Metal-polluted Soils, College of Hunan Province, School of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, Hunan, China
Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Key laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle & Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
Keywords:
Forest management, Prescribed fire, Reforestation, Plant biomass carbon, Soil organic carbon
Cite this article:
Chen Y, Cao J, Zhou L, et al. Effects of prescribed burning on carbon accumulation in two paired vegetation sites in subtropical China. Forest Ecosystems, 2019, 6(3): 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-019-0185-z
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Abstract Full text About this article
Background

Prescribed burning is a common practice of site preparation before afforestation in subtropical forests. However, the effects of prescribed burning on carbon (C) dynamics of an ecosystem are poorly understood. Therefore, a Eucalyptus urophylla plantation (EU) and a naturally recovered shrubland (NS), each treated with prescribed burning and no burning were examined in subtropical China.

Methods

Biomass of trees and shrubs in the 1st, 3nd, 4th, and 6th year after treatments were estimated by quadrat survey and allometric equations. Biomass of herbs and forest floors were estimated by harvest method. Plant biomass C storage was calculated by plant biomass multiplying by its C concentration. Soil organic C (SOC) storage in the 6th year after treatments was estimated by SOC concentration multiplying by soil bulk density and soil volumes.

Results

Tree biomass C storage was significantly higher in the burned EU (BEU) than in the unburned EU (UEU) in the 1st year after treatments, yet the difference decreased over time. Conversely, tree biomass C storage was lower in the burned NS (BNS) than in the unburned NS (UNS), although the difference was not significant. However, in the 6th year after treatments, the total plant biomass C storage was 14.56% higher in the BEU than that in the UEU, and 59.93% higher in the BNS than that in the UNS, respectively, although the significant difference was only found between UNS and BNS. In addition, neither SOC storage at 0–20 cm nor ecosystem C storage in either the EU or NS was significantly affected by prescribed burning.

Conclusions

Prescribed burning has little impact on overall C storage of forest ecosystems, we consider that prescribed burning may be an option for forest site preparation regarding plant biomass C accumulation.


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About this article

Effects of prescribed burning on carbon accumulation in two paired vegetation sites in subtropical China

Show Author's information Yuanqi Chen1,2,3, Jianbo Cao2,4, Lixia Zhou2, Feng Li2,4, Shenglei Fu5( )
Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Coal Resources Clean-utilization and Mine Environment Protection, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, China
Key Laboratory of Ecological Remediation and Safe Utilization of Heavy Metal-polluted Soils, College of Hunan Province, School of Life Science, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan 411201, Hunan, China
Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Key laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle & Lower Yellow River Regions, Ministry of Education, College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China

Abstract

Background

Prescribed burning is a common practice of site preparation before afforestation in subtropical forests. However, the effects of prescribed burning on carbon (C) dynamics of an ecosystem are poorly understood. Therefore, a Eucalyptus urophylla plantation (EU) and a naturally recovered shrubland (NS), each treated with prescribed burning and no burning were examined in subtropical China.

Methods

Biomass of trees and shrubs in the 1st, 3nd, 4th, and 6th year after treatments were estimated by quadrat survey and allometric equations. Biomass of herbs and forest floors were estimated by harvest method. Plant biomass C storage was calculated by plant biomass multiplying by its C concentration. Soil organic C (SOC) storage in the 6th year after treatments was estimated by SOC concentration multiplying by soil bulk density and soil volumes.

Results

Tree biomass C storage was significantly higher in the burned EU (BEU) than in the unburned EU (UEU) in the 1st year after treatments, yet the difference decreased over time. Conversely, tree biomass C storage was lower in the burned NS (BNS) than in the unburned NS (UNS), although the difference was not significant. However, in the 6th year after treatments, the total plant biomass C storage was 14.56% higher in the BEU than that in the UEU, and 59.93% higher in the BNS than that in the UNS, respectively, although the significant difference was only found between UNS and BNS. In addition, neither SOC storage at 0–20 cm nor ecosystem C storage in either the EU or NS was significantly affected by prescribed burning.

Conclusions

Prescribed burning has little impact on overall C storage of forest ecosystems, we consider that prescribed burning may be an option for forest site preparation regarding plant biomass C accumulation.

Keywords: Forest management, Prescribed fire, Reforestation, Plant biomass carbon, Soil organic carbon

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Publication history

Received: 20 December 2018
Accepted: 18 April 2019
Published: 13 May 2019
Issue date: September 2019

Copyright

© The Author(s) 2019.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to all members of Heshan National Field Research Station of Forest Ecosystem, who helped setting up the quadrats and investigating vegetation.

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