Tree biomass distribution patterns with a forest succession in subtropical China

AbstractTo better understand the effect of forest succession on biomass sequestration, we investigated biomass stock and allocation of evergreen broadleaf forest, a major zonal forest type in subtropical China. To analyze the biomass patterns and dynamics with forest succession, three forest types, pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) forest (PF), pine and broadleaf mixed forest (MF) and evergreen broadleaf forest (BF), were selected and their tree biomasses were investigated. The results showed that the biomass of the arbor layer was the highest in BF, which was 292.51 t/hm2, followed by MF and PF with 206.87 and 171.76 t/hm2, respectively. It indicated that tree biomass increased with the forest succession. The biomass patterns in arbor layer were similar during the forest succession, in which the biomass of trunks accounted for the largest proportion in the total biomass decreased with the forest succession, but the proportion of the biomass of roots increased with the forest succession. The biomass of the diameter class above 20 cm in PF, MF and BF contributed to a large proportion of the total biomass. With the succession, the increase of tree species diversity has a positive effect on the increase of tree biomass. Our results indicated that forest succession can sequestrate biomass carbon and alleviate the global climate change.