2025/08/21 by Melanie Larsson, Michael J. Gundale, Clydecia M. Spitzer +1 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Forest ecology and management #Forest Management and Policy #Bioenergy crop production and management
paper · doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2025.123060
openalex publication_date 2025/08/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Forest management has the potential to impact the net forest carbon (C) balance, and a better understanding of how tree species influence soil C provides a potential tool to promote higher C uptake and storage in forests. In this study, we utilized two common garden experiments located in northern and central Sweden to compare soil organic C stocks associated with six different boreal tree species ( Betula pendula , Larix sp. , Picea abies , Picea glauca , Pinus contorta and Pinus sylvestris ), approximately 30 years after planting. We measured both above- and below-ground C inputs and C outputs via decomposition and analyzed how these factors influenced soil C stocks. Our results showed that the vertical distribution of SOC differed between the species, and furthermore, many of the SOC input and output processes measured were species-dependent. Despite this, we found no differences in total belowground soil C stock between the species. The aboveground biomass C stocks, in contrast, were highly species-specific, with the rank order of species differing between the two sites. As such, our study indicates that tree species choice may serve as a tool to promote ecosystem C stocks, and in turn enhance the climate change mitigation potential of forests. • Boreal tree species effects on carbon stocks were evaluated. • Above ground biomass C stock was highly species dependent. • Belowground C stocks were not species dependent. • Belowground C stock varied more by site than by tree species.