THE EMISSION OF CARBON FROM THE DECOMPOSITION OF WOODY DEBRIS IN THE SOUTHERN TAIGA SPRUCE FOREST

ISSN: 0024-1148 Russian Journal of Forest Science. 2012, No. 5, pp. 44-49

THE EMISSION OF CARBON FROM THE DECOMPOSITION OF WOODY DEBRIS IN THE SOUTHERN TAIGA SPRUCE FOREST

Safonov S.S., Karelin D.V., Grabar V.A., Latyshev B.A., Grabovskiy V.I., Uvarova N.E.,Zamolodchikov D.G., Korotkov V.N., Gytarsky M.L.  Institute of Global Climate and Ecology (IGCE): Glebovskaya st. 20b, Moscow, 107258 Center of Forest Ecology and Productivity, Russian Academy of Sciences (CEPL RAS):Profsoyuznaya st. 84/32 bldg. 14, Moscow, 117997

E-mail: M.Gytarsky@gmx.net

Received: 2 may 2012

The formation of dead wood stock and atmospheric fl ux of carbon dioxide (CO2) from its subsequent decomposition were investigated in the mature spruce forest of the Valday terrain. The standing dead trees and woody debris composed 45.4% of the entire (live and dead) volumetric stock in the stand, dominated by the debris of the third rate of the decomposition (73.2). In the summer time, the CO2 fl ux from the decomposition of woody debris was estimated as 10.02 kg C ha-1 day-1. The woody debris of the third rate of the decomposition contributed to 95% of the fl ux. The woody debris decomposition rate becomes an integrated measure of the CO2 emission intensity.

• KEYWORDS: SPRUCE STAND, CARBON, DECOMPOSITION OF WOODY DEBRIS, DEAD WOOD, DIOXIDE