Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow Region
This study investigates the spatial heterogeneity of carbon pools in young <i>Betula</i> sp. stands on former arable lands in the southern Moscow region, Russia. The findings could be useful for the current estimates and predictions of the carbon balance in such forest ecosystems. The re...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2401 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849406479339094016 |
|---|---|
| author | Gulfina G. Frolova Pavel V. Frolov Vladimir N. Shanin Irina V. Priputina |
| author_facet | Gulfina G. Frolova Pavel V. Frolov Vladimir N. Shanin Irina V. Priputina |
| author_sort | Gulfina G. Frolova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the spatial heterogeneity of carbon pools in young <i>Betula</i> sp. stands on former arable lands in the southern Moscow region, Russia. The findings could be useful for the current estimates and predictions of the carbon balance in such forest ecosystems. The research focuses on understanding the interactions between plant cover and the environment, i.e., how environmental factors such as stand density, tree diameter and height, light conditions, and soil properties affect ecosystem carbon pools. We also studied how heterogeneity in edaphic conditions affects the formation of plant cover, particularly tree regeneration and the development of ground layer vegetation. Field measurements were conducted on a permanent 50 × 50 m sampling plot divided into 5 × 5 m subplots, in order to capture variability in vegetation and soil characteristics. Key findings reveal significant differences in carbon stocks across subplots with varying stand densities and light conditions. This highlights the role of the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties and vegetation cover in carbon sequestration. The study demonstrates the feasibility of indirect estimation of carbon stocks using stand parameters (density, height, and diameter), with results that closely match direct measurements. The total ecosystem carbon stock was estimated at 80.47 t ha<sup>−1</sup>, with the soil contribution exceeding that of living biomass and dead organic matter. This research emphasizes the importance of accounting for spatial heterogeneity in carbon assessments of post-agricultural ecosystems, providing a methodological framework for future studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-426ef47e391f4dd481b3b7ce27f49b07 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-426ef47e391f4dd481b3b7ce27f49b072025-08-20T03:36:22ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-08-011415240110.3390/plants14152401Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow RegionGulfina G. Frolova0Pavel V. Frolov1Vladimir N. Shanin2Irina V. Priputina3Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya Str., 2, 142290 Pushchino, RussiaInstitute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya Str., 2, 142290 Pushchino, RussiaInstitute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya Str., 2, 142290 Pushchino, RussiaInstitute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya Str., 2, 142290 Pushchino, RussiaThis study investigates the spatial heterogeneity of carbon pools in young <i>Betula</i> sp. stands on former arable lands in the southern Moscow region, Russia. The findings could be useful for the current estimates and predictions of the carbon balance in such forest ecosystems. The research focuses on understanding the interactions between plant cover and the environment, i.e., how environmental factors such as stand density, tree diameter and height, light conditions, and soil properties affect ecosystem carbon pools. We also studied how heterogeneity in edaphic conditions affects the formation of plant cover, particularly tree regeneration and the development of ground layer vegetation. Field measurements were conducted on a permanent 50 × 50 m sampling plot divided into 5 × 5 m subplots, in order to capture variability in vegetation and soil characteristics. Key findings reveal significant differences in carbon stocks across subplots with varying stand densities and light conditions. This highlights the role of the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties and vegetation cover in carbon sequestration. The study demonstrates the feasibility of indirect estimation of carbon stocks using stand parameters (density, height, and diameter), with results that closely match direct measurements. The total ecosystem carbon stock was estimated at 80.47 t ha<sup>−1</sup>, with the soil contribution exceeding that of living biomass and dead organic matter. This research emphasizes the importance of accounting for spatial heterogeneity in carbon assessments of post-agricultural ecosystems, providing a methodological framework for future studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2401carbon poolsspatial heterogeneity<i>Betula</i> sp. standspost-agricultural ecosystemscarbon sequestrationstand density |
| spellingShingle | Gulfina G. Frolova Pavel V. Frolov Vladimir N. Shanin Irina V. Priputina Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow Region Plants carbon pools spatial heterogeneity <i>Betula</i> sp. stands post-agricultural ecosystems carbon sequestration stand density |
| title | Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow Region |
| title_full | Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow Region |
| title_fullStr | Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow Region |
| title_short | Spatial Heterogeneity in Carbon Pools of Young <i>Betula</i> sp. Stands on Former Arable Lands in the South of the Moscow Region |
| title_sort | spatial heterogeneity in carbon pools of young i betula i sp stands on former arable lands in the south of the moscow region |
| topic | carbon pools spatial heterogeneity <i>Betula</i> sp. stands post-agricultural ecosystems carbon sequestration stand density |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2401 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gulfinagfrolova spatialheterogeneityincarbonpoolsofyoungibetulaispstandsonformerarablelandsinthesouthofthemoscowregion AT pavelvfrolov spatialheterogeneityincarbonpoolsofyoungibetulaispstandsonformerarablelandsinthesouthofthemoscowregion AT vladimirnshanin spatialheterogeneityincarbonpoolsofyoungibetulaispstandsonformerarablelandsinthesouthofthemoscowregion AT irinavpriputina spatialheterogeneityincarbonpoolsofyoungibetulaispstandsonformerarablelandsinthesouthofthemoscowregion |