*
 

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

*

Impacts of stump harvesting on carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide fluxes

Patrik Vestin (1)   , Meelis Mölder (1), Natascha Kljun (2), Zhanzhang Cai (1), Abdulghani Hasan (1-3), Jutta Holst (1), Leif Klemedtsson (4), Anders Lindroth (1)

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 15, Issue 3, Pages 148-162 (2022)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor4086-015
Published: May 07, 2022 - Copyright © 2022 SISEF

Research Articles


During 2010-2013, we investigated the effects of stump harvesting on greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) with the flux-gradient technique at four experimental plots in a hemiboreal forest in Sweden. All plots were clear-cut and soil scarified and two of the plots were additionally stump harvested. The two clear-cut plots served as control plots. Due to differences in topography, we had one wetter and one drier plot of each treatment. All plots exhibited substantial emissions of GHGs and we noted significant effects of wetness on CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes within treatments and significant effects of stump harvesting on CO2 and N2O fluxes at the dry plots. The CO2 emissions were lower at the dry stump harvested plot than at the dry control, but when estimated emissions from the removed stumps were added, total CO2 emissions were higher at the stump harvested plot, indicating a small enhancement of soil respiration. In addition, we noted significant emissions of N2O at this plot. At the wet plots, CO2 emissions were higher at the stump harvested plot, also suggesting a treatment effect but differences in wetness and vegetation cover at these plots make this effect more uncertain. At the wet plots, we noted sustained periods (weeks to months) of net N2O uptake. During the year with simultaneous measurements of the abovementioned GHGs, GHG budgets were 1.224×103 and 1.442×103 gm-2 of CO2-equivalents at the wet and dry stump harvested plots, respectively, and 1.070×103 and 1.696×103 gm-2 of CO2-equivalents at the wet and dry control plots, respectively. CO2 fluxes dominated GHG budgets at all plots but N2O contributed with 17% at the dry stump harvested plot. For the full period 2010-2013, total carbon (CO2+CH4) budgets were 4.301×103 and 4.114×103 g m-2 of CO2-eqvivalents at the wet and dry stump harvest plots, respectively and 4.107×103 and 5.274×103 gm-2 of CO2-equivalents at the wet and dry control plots, respectively. Our results support recent studies suggesting that stump harvesting does not result in substantial increase in CO2 emissions but uncertainties regarding GHG fluxes (especially N2O) remain and more long-term measurements are needed before robust conclusions can be drawn.

  Keywords


CO2, CH4, N2O, Greenhouse Gas Budget, Stump Harvesting, Climate Change Mitigation, Forest Management, Hemiboreal Forest

Authors’ address

(2)
Natascha Kljun 0000-0001-9650-2184
Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 22362, Lund (Sweden)
(3)
Abdulghani Hasan 0000-0001-5667-0482
Department of Landscape, Architecture, Planning and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Slottsvägen 6, 230 53, Alnarp (Sweden)
(4)
Leif Klemedtsson 0000-0002-1122-0717
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 5a, 405 30 Gothenburg (Sweden)

Corresponding author

 

Citation

Vestin P, Mölder M, Kljun N, Cai Z, Hasan A, Holst J, Klemedtsson L, Lindroth A (2022). Impacts of stump harvesting on carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide fluxes. iForest 15: 148-162. - doi: 10.3832/ifor4086-015

Academic Editor

Marco Borghetti

Paper history

Received: Feb 25, 2022
Accepted: Apr 27, 2022

First online: May 07, 2022
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2022
Publication Time: 0.33 months

Breakdown by View Type

(Waiting for server response...)

Article Usage

Total Article Views: 899
(from publication date up to now)

Breakdown by View Type
HTML Page Views: 0
Abstract Page Views: 0
PDF Downloads: 721
Citation/Reference Downloads: 0
XML Downloads: 178

Web Metrics
Days since publication: 692
Overall contacts: 899
Avg. contacts per week: 9.09

Article Citations

Article citations are based on data periodically collected from the Clarivate Web of Science web site
(last update: Nov 2020)

(No citations were found up to date. Please come back later)


 

Publication Metrics

by Dimensions ©

Articles citing this article

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

 
(1)
Amiro BD, Barr AG, Barr JG, Black TA, Bracho R, Brown M, Chen J, Clark KL, Davis KJ, Desai AR, Dore S, Engel V, Fuentes JD, Goldstein AH, Goulden ML, Kolb TE, Lavigne MB, Law BE, Margolis HA, Martin T, McCaughey JH, Misson L, Montes-Helu M, Noormets A, Randerson JT, Starr G, Xiao J (2010)
Ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes after disturbance in forests of North America. Journal of Geophysical Research 115: 1-13.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(2)
Andersson J, Dynesius M, Hjältén J (2017)
Short-term response to stump harvesting by the ground flora in boreal clearcuts. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 32 (3): 239-245.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(3)
Aubinet M, Vesala T, Papale D (2012)
Eddy covariance - A practical guide to measurement and data analysis. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 438.
Online | Gscholar
(4)
Axelsson E (2011)
Spatiotemporal variation of carbon stocks and fluxes at a clear-cut area in central Sweden. Master Thesis, Department of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, pp. 39.
Online | Gscholar
(5)
Chesworth W, Camps Arbestain M, Macías F, Spaargaren O, Spaargaren O, Mualem Y, MorelSeytoux HJ, Horwath WR, Almendros G, Chesworth W, Grossl PR, Sparks DL, Spaargaren O, Fairbridge RW, Singer A (2008)
Classification of Soils: FAO. In: “Encyclopedia of Soil Science” (Chesworth W ed). Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 111-113.
Gscholar
(6)
European Commission (2019)
Communication from the Commission - The European Green Deal, Brussels, Belgium, pp. 24.
Gscholar
(7)
De Jong J, Akselsson C, Egnell G, Löfgren S, Olsson BA (2017)
Realizing the energy potential of forest biomass in Sweden - How much is environmentally sustainable? Forest Ecology and Management 383: 3-16.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(8)
Denmead OT (2008)
Approaches to measuring fluxes of methane and nitrous oxide between landscapes and the atmosphere. Plant and Soil 309 (1-2): 5-24.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(9)
Dutaur L, Verchot LV (2007)
A global inventory of the soil CH4 sink. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 21 (4): 1-9.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(10)
Friedlingstein P, Jones MW, Sullivan M, Andrew RM, Bakker DCE, Hauck J, Le Quéré C, Peters GP, Peters W, Pongratz J, Sitch S, Canadell JG, Ciais P, Jackson RB, Alin SR, Anthoni P, Bates NR, Becker M, Bellouin N, Bopp L, Chau TTT, Chevallier F, Chini LP, Cronin M, Currie KI, Decharme B, Djeutchouang L, Dou X, Evans W, Feely RA, Feng L, Gasser T, Gilfillan D, Gkritzalis T, Grassi G, Gregor L, Gruber N, Gürses O, Harris I, Houghton RA, Hurtt GC, Iida Y, Ilyina T, Luijkx IT, Jain AK, Jones SD, Kato E, Kennedy D, Klein Goldewijk K, Knauer J, Korsbakken JI, Körtzinger A, Landschützer P, Lauvset SK, Lefèvre N, Lienert S, Liu J, Marland G, McGuire PC, Melton JR, Munro DR, Nabel JEMS, Nakaoka SI, Niwa Y, Ono T, Pierrot D, Poulter B, Rehder G, Resplandy L, Robertson E, Rödenbeck C, Rosan TM, Schwinger J, Schwingshackl C, Séférian R, Sutton AJ, Sweeney C, Tanhua T, Tans PP, Tian H, Tilbrook B, Tubiello F, Van Der Werf G, Vuichard N, Wada C, Wanninkhof R, Watson A, Willis D, Wiltshire AJ, Yuan W, Yue C, Yue X, Zaehle S, Zeng J (2021)
Global carbon budget 2021. Earth System Science Data Discussion 2021: 1-191.
Online | Gscholar
(11)
Grelle A, Strömgren M, Hyvönen R (2012)
Carbon balance of a forest ecosystem after stump harvest. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 27 (8): 762-773.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(12)
Hill T, Chocholek M, Clement R (2017)
The case for increasing the statistical power of eddy covariance ecosystem studies: why, where and how? Global Change Biology 23 (6): 2154-2165.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(13)
Horst TW (1999)
The footprint for estimation of atmosphere-surface exchange fluxes by profile techniques. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 90 (2): 171-188.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(14)
Huete AR (1988)
A soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). Remote Sensing of Environment 25 (3): 295-309.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(15)
Humphreys ER, Andrew Black T, Morgenstern K, Li Z, Nesic Z (2005)
Net ecosystem production of a Douglas-fir stand for 3 years following clearcut harvesting. Global Change Biology 11 (3): 450-464.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(16)
Hyvönen R, Kaarakka L, Leppälammi-Kujansuu J, Olsson BA, Palviainen M, Vegerfors-Persson B, Helmisaari H-S (2016)
Effects of stump harvesting on soil C and N stocks and vegetation 8-13 years after clear-cutting. Forest Ecology and Management 371: 23-32.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(17)
Högström U (1988)
Non-dimensional wind and temperature profiles in the atmospheric surface layer: a re-evaluation. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 42 (1): 55-78.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(18)
Kljun N, Calanca P, Rotach MW, Schmid HP (2015)
A simple two-dimensional parameterisation for Flux Footprint Prediction (FFP). Geoscientific Model Development 8 (11): 3695-3713.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(19)
Lamlom SH, Savidge RA (2003)
A reassessment of carbon content in wood: variation within and between 41 North American species. Biomass and Bioenergy 25 (4): 381-388.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(20)
Law B, Moomaw WR (2021)
Keeping trees in the ground where they are already growing is an effective low-tech way to slow climate change. The Conversation.
Online | Gscholar
(21)
Litton CM, Raich JW, Ryan MG (2007)
Carbon allocation in forest ecosystems. Global Change Biology 13 (10): 2089-2109.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(22)
Lloyd J, Taylor JA (1994)
On the temperature dependence of soil respiration. Functional Ecology 8 (3): 315-323.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(23)
Lundin LC, Halldin S, Lindroth A, Cienciala E, Grelle A, Hjelm P, Kellner E, Lundberg A, Molder M, Moren AS, Nord T, Seibert J, Stahli M (1999)
Continuous long-term measurements of soil-plant-atmosphere variables at a forest site. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 98 (99): 53-73.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(24)
Marklund LG (1988)
Biomass functions for pine, spruce and birch in Sweden. Report 45, Department of Forest Survey, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden, pp. 73.
Gscholar
(25)
Mauder M, Foken T (2004)
Documentation and instruction manual of the eddy covariance software package TK2. University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Bavaria, Germany, pp. 45.
Gscholar
(26)
Melin Y, Petersson H, Nordfjell T (2009)
Decomposition of stump and root systems of Norway spruce in Sweden. A modelling approach. Forest Ecology and Management 257 (5): 1445-1451.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(27)
Mjöfors K, Stromgren M, Nohrstedt HO, Gardenas AI (2015)
Impact of site-preparation on soil-surface CO2 fluxes and litter decomposition in a clear-cut in Sweden. Silva Fennica 49 (5): 1403.
Online | Gscholar
(28)
Mojeremane W, Rees RM, Mencuccini M (2012)
The effects of site preparation practices on carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide fluxes from a peaty gley soil. Forestry 85 (1): 1-15.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(29)
Myhre G, Shindell D, Bréon F-M, Collins W, Fuglestvedt J, Huang J, Koch D, Lamarque J-F, Lee D, Mendoza B, Nakajima T, Robock A, Stephens G, Takemura T, Zhang H (2013)
Anthropogenic and natural radiative forcing. In: “Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis” (Stocker TF et al.). Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
Gscholar
(30)
Oliver MA, Webster R (1990)
Kriging: a method of interpolation for geographical information systems. International Journal of Geographical Information Systems 4 (3): 313-332.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(31)
Oren RAM, Hsieh C-I, Stoy P, Albertson J, McCarthy HR, Harrell P, Katul GG (2006)
Estimating the uncertainty in annual net ecosystem carbon exchange: spatial variation in turbulent fluxes and sampling errors in eddy-covariance measurements. Global Change Biology 12 (5): 883-896.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(32)
Pan Y, Birdsey RA, Fang J, Houghton R, Kauppi PE, Kurz WA, Phillips OL, Shvidenko A, Lewis SL, Canadell JG, Ciais P, Jackson RB, Pacala SW, McGuire AD, Piao S, Rautiainen A, Sitch S, Hayes D (2011)
A large and persistent carbon sink in the world’s forests. Science 333 (6045): 988-993.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(33)
Persson T, Lenoir L, Vegerfors B (2017)
Long-term effects of stump harvesting and site preparation on pools and fluxes of soil carbon and nitrogen in central Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 32 (3): 222-229.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(34)
Reichstein M, Falge E, Baldocchi D, Papale D, Aubinet M, Berbigier P, Bernhofer C, Buchmann N, Gilmanov T, Granier A, Grunwald T, Havrankova K, Ilvesniemi H, Janous D, Knohl A, Laurila T, Lohila A, Loustau D, Matteucci G, Meyers T, Miglietta F, Ourcival J-M, Pumpanen J, Rambal S, Rotenberg E, Sanz M, Tenhunen J, Seufert G, Vaccari F, Vesala T, Yakir D, Valentini R (2005)
On the separation of net ecosystem exchange into assimilation and ecosystem respiration: review and improved algorithm. Global Change Biology 11 (9): 1424-1439.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(35)
Scanlon TM, Kiely G (2003)
Ecosystem-scale measurements of nitrous oxide fluxes for an intensely grazed, fertilized grassland. Geophysical Research Letters 30 (16): 1-4.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(36)
Schmid HP, Grimmond CSB, Cropley F, Offerle B, Su H-B (2000)
Measurements of CO2 and energy fluxes over a mixed hardwood forest in the mid-western United States. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 103 (4): 357-374.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(37)
Shorohova E, Kapitsa E, Vanha-Majamaa I (2008)
Decomposition of stumps in a chronosequence after clear-felling vs. clear-felling with prescribed burning in a southern boreal forest in Finland. Forest Ecology and Management 255 (10): 3606-3612.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(38)
Shurpali NJ, Rannik U, Jokinen S, Lind S, Biasi C, Mammarella I, Peltola O, Pihlatie M, Hyvönen N, Räty M, Haapanala S, Zahniser M, Virkajärvi P, Vesala T, Martikainen PJ (2016)
Neglecting diurnal variations leads to uncertainties in terrestrial nitrous oxide emissions. Scientific Reports 6 (1): 410.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(39)
Smith KA, Dobbie KE, Ball BC, Bakken LR, Sitaula BK, Hansen S, Brumme R, Borken W, Christensen S, Priemé A, Fowler D, Macdonald JA, Skiba U, Klemedtsson L, Kasimir-Klemedtsson A, Degórska A, Orlanski P (2000)
Oxidation of atmospheric methane in Northern European soils, comparison with other ecosystems, and uncertainties in the global terrestrial sink. Global Change Biology 6 (7): 791-803.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(40)
Strömgren M, Mjöfors K (2012)
Soil-CO2 flux after patch scarification, harrowing and stump harvest in a hemi-boreal forest. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 27 (8): 754-761.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(41)
Strömgren M, Mjöfors K, Holmström B, Grelle A (2012)
Soil CO2 flux during the first years after stump harvesting in two Swedish forests. Silva Fennica 46 (1): 66.
Online | Gscholar
(42)
Strömgren M, Egnell G, Olsson BA (2013)
Carbon stocks in four forest stands in Sweden 25 years after harvesting of slash and stumps. Forest Ecology and Management 290: 59-66.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(43)
Strömgren M, Hedwall PO, Olsson BA (2016)
Effects of stump harvest and site preparation on N2O and CH4 emissions from boreal forest soils after clear-cutting. Forest Ecology and Management 371: 15-22.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(44)
Strömgren M, Mjöfors K, Olsson BA (2017)
Soil-surface CO2 flux during the first 2 years after stump harvesting and site preparation in 14 Swedish forests. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 32 (3): 213-221.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(45)
Sundqvist E, Vestin P, Crill P, Persson T, Lindroth A (2014)
Short-term effects of thinning, clear-cutting and stump harvesting on methane exchange in a boreal forest. Biogeosciences 11 (21): 6095-6105.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(46)
Swedish Energy Agency (2015)
Energiläget 2015 [Energy situation 2015]. Report ET 2015:08, Eskilstuna, Sweden, pp. 94. [in Swedish]
Gscholar
(47)
Swedish Forest Agency (2017)
Statistical database on forestry. Official Statistics of Sweden, web site.
Online | Gscholar
(48)
Tagesson T, Schurgers G, Horion S, Ciais P, Tian F, Brandt M, Ahlström A, Wigneron J-P, Ardö J, Olin S, Fan L, Wu Z, Fensholt R (2020)
Recent divergence in the contributions of tropical and boreal forests to the terrestrial carbon sink. Nature Ecology and Evolution 4 (2): 202-209.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(49)
Thomas SC, Malczewski G (2007)
Wood carbon content of tree species in Eastern China: interspecific variability and the importance of the volatile fraction. Journal of Environmental Management 85 (3): 659-662.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(50)
Thomas SC, Martin AR (2012)
Carbon content of tree tissues: a synthesis. Forests 3 (2): 332-352.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(51)
Tucker CJ (1979)
Red and photographic infrared linear combinations for monitoring vegetation. Remote Sensing of Environment 8 (2): 127-150.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(52)
Uri V, Aosaar J, Varik M, Becker H, Kukumägi M, Ligi K, Pärn L, Kanal A (2015)
Biomass resource and environmental effects of Norway spruce (Picea abies) stump harvesting: an Estonian case study. Forest Ecology and Management 335: 207-215.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(53)
Vestin P, Mölder M, Kljun N, Cai Z, Hasan A, Holst J, Klemedtsson L, Lindroth A (2020)
Impacts of clear-cutting of a boreal forest on carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide fluxes. Forests 11 (9): 961.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(54)
Vickers D, Mahrt L (1997)
Quality control and flux sampling problems for tower and aircraft data. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 14 (3): 512-526.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(55)
Webster KL, Wilson SA, Hazlett PW, Fleming RL, Morris DM (2016)
Soil CO2 efflux and net ecosystem exchange following biomass harvesting: impacts of harvest intensity, residue retention and vegetation control. Forest Ecology and Management 360: 181-194.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(56)
Williams CA, Vanderhoof MK, Khomik M, Ghimire B (2014)
Post-clearcut dynamics of carbon, water and energy exchanges in a midlatitude temperate, deciduous broadleaf forest environment. Global Change Biology 20 (3): 992-1007.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(57)
Xiao X, Zhang Q, Braswell B, Urbanski S, Boles S, Wofsy S, Moore B, Ojima D (2004)
Modeling gross primary production of temperate deciduous broadleaf forest using satellite images and climate data. Remote Sensing of Environment 91 (2): 256-270.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(58)
Zerva A, Mencuccini M (2005)
Short-term effects of clearfelling on soil CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes in a Sitka spruce plantation. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 37 (11): 2025-2036.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(59)
Zona D, Janssens IA, Gioli B, Jungkunst HF, Serrano MC, Ceulemans R (2013)
N2O fluxes of a bio-energy poplar plantation during a two years rotation period. GCB Bioenergy 5 (5): 536-547.
CrossRef | Gscholar
 

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