Changes in Soil Organic Carbon Concentration and Stock after Forest Regeneration of Agricultural Fields in Taiwan

Afforestation or abandonment of agricultural fields to forest regeneration is a method sequestering carbon offset the increasing atmospheric concentration CO2. We selected 11 sites with altitudes ranging from 14 2056 m and paired regenerated adjacent fields. Our objectives were (1) examine changes in soil organic (SOC) stock after (2) identify factors related elevation practices that affect SOC accumulation rate. results demonstrated overall increases both concentrations stocks abandoned The average increase rates samples 1.65 0.95 g C kg−1 at 0–10 10–20 cm depths, respectively, representing 101% 65% relative those forests 13.0 6.7 ton ha−1 96% 62% samples. annual sequestration rate was 1.03 Mg year−1 for top 0–20 soils, which greater than observed by previous reviews meta-analyses. tropical/subtropical climate, sampling depth, period, tree species this study are likely have contributed high levels. In addition, higher low-elevation middle-elevation sites, could also be attributed favorable climatic conditions sites. Along build-up floor biomass, afforestation/abandonment appears promising mechanism.