*
 

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

*

Equations for estimating belowground biomass of Silver Birch, Oak and Scots Pine in Germany

Steffi Röhling (1)   , Burkhard Demant (2), Karsten Dunger (1), Mirko Neubauer (2), Katja Oehmichen (1), Thomas Riedel (1), Wolfgang Stümer (1)

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 12, Issue 2, Pages 166-172 (2019)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor2862-012
Published: Mar 15, 2019 - Copyright © 2019 SISEF

Research Articles


In this study we derived allometric functions for estimating the belowground biomass (BGB) of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth), Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.), Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Germany. To assess the impact on German greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, these new functions were further compared with BGB functions currently used in France and Sweden. For developing new BGB functions 48 Silver Birches, 39 Pedunculate and Sessile Oaks and 54 Scots Pines were destructively sampled. The sampled trees spanned a DBH range from 8.2 to 52.9 cm for Silver Birch, from 7.4 to 42.0 cm for Oak and from 7.2 to 53.2 cm for Scots Pine. After fitting the data, the following values of model efficiency were achieved: 0.81 for Silver Birch, 0.98 for Oak and 0.95 for Scots Pine. The model root mean square error varies between 5.2 kg for Oak, 13.7 kg for Scots pine and 26.9 kg for Silver Birch. Comparison with the currently applied BGB functions in the German GHG inventory from France and Sweden showed that the use of these functions results in systematically different estimates for the BGB of Silver Birch and Oak. Thus, our findings indicate that BGB functions recommended for other European countries (in particular France and Sweden) are not appropriate for estimating the BGB for the tree species concerned in Germany. Currently, the derived data-set for BGB of Silver Birch, Oak and Scots Pine is the largest in Germany and the developed functions are thus the best available for estimating national BGB stock and stock change in Germany at the moment.

  Keywords


Belowground Biomass, Allometric Equations, National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Betula pendula, Quercus robur, Quercus petraea, Pinus sylvestris

Authors’ address

(1)
Steffi Röhling
Karsten Dunger
Katja Oehmichen
Thomas Riedel
Wolfgang Stümer
Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems, Alfred-Möller-Straße 1, 16225 Eberswalde (Germany)
(2)
Burkhard Demant
Mirko Neubauer
Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development, Alfred-Möller-Straße 1, 16225 Eberswalde (Germany)

Corresponding author

 
Steffi Röhling
steffi.roehling@thuenen.de

Citation

Röhling S, Demant B, Dunger K, Neubauer M, Oehmichen K, Riedel T, Stümer W (2019). Equations for estimating belowground biomass of Silver Birch, Oak and Scots Pine in Germany. iForest 12: 166-172. - doi: 10.3832/ifor2862-012

Academic Editor

Gianfranco Minotta

Paper history

Received: May 23, 2018
Accepted: Feb 06, 2019

First online: Mar 15, 2019
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2019
Publication Time: 1.23 months

Breakdown by View Type

(Waiting for server response...)

Article Usage

Total Article Views: 41293
(from publication date up to now)

Breakdown by View Type
HTML Page Views: 34245
Abstract Page Views: 3061
PDF Downloads: 3279
Citation/Reference Downloads: 9
XML Downloads: 699

Web Metrics
Days since publication: 2100
Overall contacts: 41293
Avg. contacts per week: 137.64

Article Citations

Article citations are based on data periodically collected from the Clarivate Web of Science web site
(last update: Feb 2023)

Total number of cites (since 2019): 5
Average cites per year: 1.00

 

Publication Metrics

by Dimensions ©

Articles citing this article

List of the papers citing this article based on CrossRef Cited-by.

 
(1)
Annighöfer P, Ameztegui A, Ammer C, Balandier P, Bartsch N, Bolte A, Coll L, Collet C, Ewald J, Frischbier N, Gebereyesus T, Haase J, Hamm T, Hirschfelder B, Huth F, Kändler G, Kahl A, Kawaletz H, Kuehne C, Lacointe A, Lin N, Löf M, Malagoli P, Marquier A, Müller S, Promberger S, Provendier D, Röhle H, Sathornkich J, Schall P, Scherer-Lorenzen M, SchröDer J, Seele C, Weidig J, Wirth C, Wolf H, Wollmerstädt J, Mund M (2016)
Species-specific and generic biomass equations for seedlings and saplings of European tree species. European Journal of Forest Research 135: 313-329.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(2)
Bijak S, Zasada M, Bronisz A, Bronisz K, Czajkowski M, Ludwisiak L, Tomusiak R, Wojtan R (2013)
Estimating coarse roots biomass in young silver birch stands on post-agricultural lands in central Poland. Silva Fennica 47: 2.
Online | Gscholar
(3)
Bolkenius D (2001)
Zur Wurzelausbildung von Fichte (Picea abies L. Karst) und Weißtanne (Abies alba Mill.) in gleichaltrigen und ungleichaltrigen Beständen [The root formation of spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in even-aged and uneven-aged stands]. Freiburg i. Breisgau, Universität Freiburg, Berichte Freiburger Forstliche Forschung, Band 35, pp. 155. [in German]
Gscholar
(4)
Bolte A, Hertel D, Ammer C, Schmid I, Nörr R, Kuhr M, Redde N (2003)
Freilandmethoden zur Untersuchung von Baumwurzeln [Field methods for studying tree roots]. Forstarchiv 74: 240-262. [in German]
Gscholar
(5)
Bolte A, Rahmann T, Kuhr M, Pogoda P, Murach D, Gadow KV (2004)
Relationships between tree dimension and coarse root biomass in mixed stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Plant and Soil 264 (1-2): 1-11.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(6)
Brown S (2002)
Measuring carbon in forests: current status and future challenges. Environmental Pollution 116 (3): 363-372.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(7)
Drexhage M, Colin F (2001)
Estimating root system biomass from breast-height diameters. Forestry 74 (5): 492-497.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(8)
Drexhage M, Chauviere M, Colin F, Nielsen CNN (2009)
Development of structural root architecture and allometry of Quercus petraea. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 29 (5): 600-608.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(9)
Dunger K, Stümer W, Riedel T, Brötz J, Ziche D, Grüneberg E, Wellbrock N, Oehmichen K (2017)
Chapter 6.4: Forest Land (4A). In: “Submission under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2017. National Inventory Report for the German Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2015”. Federal Environment Agency, Dessau, Germany, pp. 563-600.
Gscholar
(10)
Durkaya A, Durkaya B, Seyma US (2016)
Below- and above ground biomass distribution of young Scots pines from plantations and natural stands. Bosque 37 (3): 509-518.
Online | Gscholar
(11)
Hornschuch F, Anders S (2004)
Auswirkungen des Waldumbaus von Kiefern- zu Buchen-Reinbeständen auf Struktur und Dynamik des Feinwurzelsystems [Effects of forest conversion from pine to beech stands on the structure and dynamics of the fine root system]. BFH-Nachrichten 1: 24-25. [in German]
Gscholar
(12)
IPCC (2006)
IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories 2006. Volume 4: Agricultural, Forestry and Other Land Use. Web site
Online | Gscholar
(13)
IPCC (2014a)
Revised supplementary methods and good practice guidance arising from the Kyoto protocol (Hiraishi T, Krug T, Tanabe K, Srivastava N, Baasansuren J, Fukunda M eds). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 268.
Gscholar
(14)
IPCC (2014b)
Supplement to the IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories: wetlands (Hiraishi T, Krug T, Tanabe K, Srivastava N, Baasansuren J, Fukunda M eds). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland, pp. 354.
Gscholar
(15)
Janssens I, Sampson DA, Cermak J, Meiresonne L, Riguzzi F, Overloop S, Ceulemann R (1999)
Above- and belowground phytomass and carbon storage in a belgian Scots Pine Stand. Annals of Forest Science 56: 81-90.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(16)
Johansson T (2007)
Biomass production and allometric above- and below-ground relations for young birch stands planted at four spacings on abandoned farmland. Forestry 80 (1): 41-52.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(17)
Johansson T, Hjelm B (2012)
Stump and root biomass of poplar stands. Forests 3 (2): 166-187.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(18)
Köstler JN, Brückner E, Biebelriether H (1968)
Die Wurzeln der Waldbäume [The roots of the forest trees]. Verlag Paul Parey, Hamburg and Berlin, Germany, pp. 284. [in German]
Gscholar
(19)
Kraft G (1884)
Beiträge zur Lehre von den Durchforstungen, Schlagstellungen und Lichtungshieben [About thinnings, cutting systems and shelterwood cuttings]. Klindworth Verlag, Hannover, Germany, pp. 147. [in German]
Gscholar
(20)
Liepinš J, Lazdinš A, Liepinš K (2018)
Equations for estimating above- and belowground biomass of Norway spruce, Scots pine, birch spp. and European aspen in Latvia. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 33 (1): 58-70.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(21)
Neubauer M, Demant B, Bolte A (2015)
Einzelbaumbezogene Schätzfunktionen zur unterirdischen Biomasse der Wald-Kiefer (Pinus sylvestris L.) [Tree-based estimator for below-ground biomass of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)]. Forstarchiv 86: 42-47. [in German]
Gscholar
(22)
Petersson H, Ståhl G (2006)
Functions for below-ground biomass of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pendula and Betula pubescens in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 21 (7): 84-93.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(23)
R Development Core Team (2013)
R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
Online | Gscholar
(24)
Repola J, Ojansuu R, Kukkola M (2007)
Biomass functions for Scots pine, Norway spruce and birch in Finland. Working Papers no. 53, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Joensuu, Finland, pp. 28.
Online | Gscholar
(25)
Repola J (2008)
Biomass equations for birch in Finland. Silva Fennica 42 (4): 605-624.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(26)
Smith A, Granhus A, Rasmus A (2016)
Functions for estimating belowground and whole tree biomass of birch in Norway. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 31 (6): 568-582.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(27)
Uri V, Lohmus K, Ostonen I, Tullus H, Lastik R, Vildo M (2007)
Biomass production, foliar and root characteristics and nutrient accumulation in young silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) stand growing on abandoned agricultural land. European Journal of Forest Research 126 (4): 495-506.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(28)
Vanninen P, Mäkelä A (1999)
Fine root biomass of Scots pine stands differing in age and soil fertility in southern Finland. Tree Physiology 19 (12): 823-830.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(29)
Varik M, Aosaar J, Ostonen I, Lõhmus K, Uri V (2013)
Carbon and nitrogen accumulation in belowground tree biomass in a chronosequence of silver birch stands. Forest Ecology and Management 302: 62-70.
CrossRef | Gscholar
 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. More info