Carbon in heartwood, sapwood and bark along the stem profile in three Mediterranean Pinus species

• Published in: Annals of forest science. Vol. 68; no. 6; pp. 1067 - 1076
• Main Authors: Herrero de Aza, Celia, Turrión, María Belén, Pando, Valentín, Bravo, Felipe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 01.09.2011; EDP Sciences; Springer Nature (since 2011)/EDP Science (until 2010)
• Subjects: Agricultural sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Environment; Forestry; Forestry Management; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Sciences; Original Paper; Pinus; Pinus nigra; Pinus pinaster; Pinus sylvestris; Silviculture, forestry; Tree Biology; Wood Science & Technology; Spain; Carbon concentration; Radial and axial; Anatomical parts; Pinus pinaster; Pinus nigra; Sapwood; Heartwood; Bark; Anatomy; Pinus sylvestris; Carbon; Stem; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Forestry; Coniferales; Spermatophyta; Mediterranean region
• ISSN: 1286-4560; 1297-966X
• DOI: 10.1007/s13595-011-0122-y

• Context Understanding biological processes in forests is necessary to orientate ecosystem management towards potential C sequestration. To achieve this, information is required about changes in forest biomass C pools, including the stem components (bark, sapwood and heartwood). • Aims This study aimed to determine whether there are differences in C concentration in axial and radial directions within stem biomass in Pinus nigra , Pinus pinaster and Pinus sylvestris . • Methods Wood samples from a permanent plantation in northern Spain were examined for C concentration and wood bulk density. • Results The results showed that C concentration was higher in heartwood than in sapwood in the three species. Pinus spp. sapwood C concentration increased along the stem, while the C concentration in heartwood tissue showed the opposite behavior. In bark, Pinus pinaster showed a decreasing trend, in contrast to Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris , where higher values were found at the base and top of the stem. Finally, wood bulk density decreased in heartwood, sapwood and bark areas when stem height increased. Estimating C content taking into account different anatomical parts and heights is important in considering the specificity of the different parts because of their potential commercial or ecological use in forest ecosystems.