Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in Mixed-Deciduous and Coniferous Forests in Austria

Question: We compared the soil organic carbon stock of forests an entire country. The objective our research was establishing differences between coniferous or deciduous with respect to stocks. question is relevant because are increasingly damaged by abiotic and biotic disturbances that related climate change. Deciduous considered be less vulnerable. Their soils expected more persistent reliable sinks for dioxide. Methods: Soil data available from Austrian Forest Survey. Soils have been sampled on sites Inventory. were stratified according geology (calcareous vs. silicatic bedrock), orientation slopes, forest type (coniferous mixed-deciduous forest). These used establish ground truth Further, we had simulation results a coupled growth/soil model. scenarios built Inventory 2007/09 reflect business-as-usual management climate-change adaptation scenario where managers replace if site conditions permit it. simulations performed growth simulator CÂLDIS model Yasso07. Results: Based Survey stocks consistently higher than in forests. This result applies both litter layer mineral depth 50 cm. gradients similar types. under strong warming showed increase when conifers replaced tree species. In 150-year majority will become suitable build-up large driven stronger harvesting pressure remaining lesser demand developed light intervention regime. However, toward end century, temperature level far above present levels, declined.