Subtropical plantations are large carbon sinks: Evidence from two monoculture plantations in South China

Quantifying the net carbon (C) storage of forest plantations is required to assess their potential to offset fossil fuel emissions. In this study, a biometric approach was used to estimate net ecosystem productivity (NEP) for two monoculture plantations in South China: Acacia crassicarpa and Eucalyptus urophylla. This approach was based on stand-level net primary productivity (NPP, based on direct biometric inventory) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh). In comparisons of Rh determination based on trenching vs. tree girdling, both trenching and tree girdling changed soil temperature and soil moisture relative to undisturbed control plots, and we assess the effects of corrections for disturbances of soil moisture and soil moisture on the estimation of soil CO2 efflux partitioning. Soil microbial biomass and dissolved organic carbon were significantly lower in trenched plots than in tree girdled plots for both plantations. Annual soil CO2 flux in trenched plots (Rh-t) was significantly lower than in tree-girdled plots (Rh-g) in both plantations. The estimates of Rh-t and Rh-g, expressed as a percentage of total soil respiration, were 58 ± 4% and 74 ± 6%, respectively, for A. crassicarpa, and 64 ± 3% and 78 ± 5%, respectively, for E. urophylla. By the end of experiment, the difference in soil CO2 efflux between the trenched plots and tree-girdled plots had become small for both plantations. Annual Rh (mean of the annual Rh-t and Rh-g) and net primary production (NPP) were 470 ± 25 and 800 ± 118 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively, for A. crassicarpa, and 420 ± 35 and 2380 ± 187 g C m−2 yr−2, respectively, for E. urophylla. The two plantations in the developmental stage were large carbon sinks: NEP was 330 ± 76 C m−2 yr−1 for A. crassicarpa and 1960 ± 178 g C m−2 yr−1 for E. urophylla.

► Using trenching and tree girdling approaches to estimate heterotrophic respiration (Rh).
► Trenching and tree girdling change soil environments compared to control plantation, and assessing effects of disturbances of soil environments on the estimation of soil CO2 efflux partitioning is necessary.
► Subtropical plantations in the developmental stage are large carbon sinks using biometric model.