Browsing by Subject "kangasmetsä"

In the carbon cycle carbon is sequestrated from the atmosphere through photosynthesis in vegetation, returned into soils as litter and released into atmosphere in decomposition as carbon dioxide. In the boreal zone a large proportion of the organic carbon is bound into soil. The aim of this study was to find out how the amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) has changed in Finnish forests in last 20 years by comparing results of empirical measurements from two projects (1986-1995 and 2006). The purpose of the study was also to analyze how well the field measurements of SOC collected in two consecutive periods of time are suitable for characterization of changes in the SOC stock. The effect of soil structure, vegetation type and climatic factors on possible SOC changes were also studied. The average size of SOC stock (organic layer + mineral layer 0-40cm) in Finnish forests is 5.65 kg C m-2. About one third of SOC is in the organic layer (2.10 kg C m-2) and the rest of it is in the mineral soil (3.56 kg C m-2 ). Higher amount of SOC stock in the organic layer has been determined on plots with thicker organic layer, poor drainage and the presence of peat mosses. Higher amount of SOC in the mineral layer has been measured on plots which have a more southerly location, lower stoniness and high proportion of fine textures. Coefficients of determination in General Linear Models were between 23-61%. The average annual change of SOC (organic layer + mineral layer 0-40 cm) is +33.9 g C m-2a-1. Change in the organic layer has been +11.4 g C m-2a-1 and in the mineral soil +22.5 g C m-2a-1. The accumulation of organic carbon into the organic layer is positively correlated with the thickness of the organic layer, the southern location, pine dominance in tree layer and the age of the trees, while in the mineral soil higher carbon accumulation occurs in less stony soils and in more southern locations. Coefficients of determination in General Linear Models describing the change in SOC were low, between 11-14%. The largest positive or negative changes in SOC are in plots where the depth of the organic layer measured in two successive measurements was very different. Also, the differences in the measurements of SOC were large if the plots were drained, divided to two different sections or plots were excessively moist. Climate change and higher temperature will probably affect soil carbon sequestration positively, forecasted by using the results of the south-north gradient in which more carbon was accumulated into the soils of southern Finland. Soil monitoring research should be developed by using precise sampling methods and establishing permanent instructions for field work in order to avoid additional sources of error and to minimize variation.