The influence of stocking levels, clone, fertilization, and weed control on surface CO2 efflux in a mid-rotation Pinus radiata D. Don plantation in Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract Silvicultural practices applied in managed forest plantations may help counteract the effects of climate change by influencing soil surface CO 2 efflux ( F s ). Understanding silvicultural on will provide unbiased estimates carbon fluxes and allow better decisions for sequestration. Therefore, we assessed how differed seasonally across (i.e., stocking levels, clone, fertilization weed control treatments) evaluated temperature T ) volumetric water content θ v these a mid-rotation (14 year-old) Pinus radiata plantation Canterbury region New Zealand. There were significant differences p < 0.05) over four seasons, three levels stocking, five clones. The 12 years previously insignificant. Annual estimate (mean ± 1 standard deviation) from study site was 22.7 7.1 t ha −1 form (6.2 2.1 C). values consistently higher plots with 1250 stems compared to 2500 , which be related strong resource limitation because close spacing latter plantation. Significant clones suggest that variations partitioning might explain their growth performance. treatments influenced response 0.05), resulting models explaining 28–49% total variance . These findings insights into management impact pine plantations, contributing towards developing more precise budgets.