Biomass production and carbon accumulation in silver birch stands in Oxalis site type

Present study was carried out in three silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stands in the Oxalis site type in South-Estonia. The above-ground biomass, above-ground biomass production and foliar characteristics of 14-, 32- and 45-year-old silver birch natural stands were studied. The above-ground biomass and production of the stand was estimated in August 2008 using dimension analysis (model tree method). The above-ground biomasses in the 14-, 32- and 45-year-old silver birch stands growing on forest land were 39.9; 140.3 and 224.3 t ha⁻¹ respectively. All results are given in dry mass (DM). Current annual production (CAP) of stem mass ranged 4.7-7.5 t ha⁻¹. Leaf area index (LAI) ranged 2.5-4.4 m² m⁻² in the studied stands. Based on these results, stands of silver birch growing in Oxalis site type are very productive and may exceed the respective values presented in yield tables used in Estonian forestry.

The main aim of the present study was to investigate above-ground biomass, production and foliar characteristics of three different-aged silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stands growing on forestland, in Oxalis site type. This study is based on three experimental sites, located in Tartu and Põlva county, Southern-Estonia.The above-ground biomass was estimated in August 2008 by the method of model trees (dimension analysis). Above-ground biomasses in the 14-, 32- and 45-year-old silver birch stands were 39.9; 140.3 and 224.3 t ha⁻¹ respectively. Current annual increment (CAI) of stem mass varied from 4.7-7.5 t ha⁻¹. The leaf area index (LAI) ranged 2.5-4.4 m² m⁻² in the studied stands.Biomass production capacity and stem masses were high in cases of all studied sites, comparing to previously worked out yield tables (Henno, Tjurin, Vargas de Bedemar).Biomass production in silver birch stands can be considered as an actual issue in relation of carbon sequestration and mitigation of climate changes and needs future investigations.