Influence of genetic factors on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) above-ground biomass and its distribution
2011
Libiete-Zalite, Z., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia) | Jansons, A., Latvian State Forest Research Inst. Silava, Salaspils (Latvia)
It is essential to have information on the tree biomass due to the fact that it is an important ecosystem pool for reporting changes in carbon stocks of forests and increased attempts to diversify the energy sources. In Latvia, comparatively few studies have focused on this topic so far. Our study was conducted on two 36 - 38 years old Norway spruce plantations. Detailed stem analysis of 39 trees was performed, and biomass of the above-ground tree components was determined. We analyzed tree and clone-level biomass distribution, biomass relations with tree dimensions and dependence on the genetic factors. The mean total biomass (kg d.w.) of all analyzed sample trees was 131.4 ± 10.58 kg, the mean biomass of stem 85.9 ± 6.98 kg, the mean biomass of dead branches 8.3 ± 0.82 kg, the mean biomass of living branches 23.5 ± 2.34 kg and the mean biomass of needles 13.7 ± 1.22 kg. On average, 66.1% of biomass was allocated to the stem, 6.4% to the dead branches, 17.4% to the living branches and 10.1% to the needles. The biomass of the analyzed trees positively correlated with all tested tree parameters - DBH, tree height, stem volume. Typically, with increasing tree parameters total biomass and stem biomass increased rapidly but branch and needle biomass increased slowly. Significant differences of tree dimensions were detected between the clones, and the differences in total biomass and stem biomass were clearly correlated with the differences in tree dimensions over clones. No significant impact of the clone was found specifically on the tree biomass or its distribution.
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