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Limited carbon storage in soil and litter of experimental forest plots under increased atmospheric CO2

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  • William H. Schlesinger

    (Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Duke University)

  • John Lichter

    (Bowdoin College)

Abstract

The current rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration is thought to be mitigated in part by carbon sequestration within forest ecosystems1,2, where carbon can be stored in vegetation or soils. The storage of carbon in soils is determined by the fraction that is sequestered in persistent organic materials, such as humus. In experimental forest plots of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) exposed to high CO2 concentrations3,4, nearly half of the carbon uptake is allocated to short-lived tissues, largely foliage. These tissues fall to the ground and decompose, normally contributing only a small portion of their carbon content to refractory soil humic materials5. Such findings call into question the role of soils as long-term carbon sinks, and show the need for a better understanding of carbon cycling in forest soils. Here we report a significant accumulation of carbon in the litter layer of experimental forest plots after three years of growth at increased CO2 concentrations (565 µl l-1). But fast turnover times of organic carbon in the litter layer (of about three years) appear to constrain the potential size of this carbon sink. Given the observation that carbon accumulation in the deeper mineral soil layers was absent, we suggest that significant, long-term net carbon sequestration in forest soils is unlikely.

Suggested Citation

  • William H. Schlesinger & John Lichter, 2001. "Limited carbon storage in soil and litter of experimental forest plots under increased atmospheric CO2," Nature, Nature, vol. 411(6836), pages 466-469, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:411:y:2001:i:6836:d:10.1038_35078060
    DOI: 10.1038/35078060
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    Cited by:

    1. Baldauf, Thomas & Plugge, Daniel & Rqibate, Aziza & Leischner, Bettina & Dieter, Matthias & Köhl, Michael, 2010. "Development of a holistic methodology for implementing a REDD-scheme at the example of Madagascar," Work report of the Institute for World Forestry 2010/2, Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    2. Mark A. Adams & Mathias Neumann, 2023. "Litter accumulation and fire risks show direct and indirect climate-dependence at continental scale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Yuan, Fengming & Arain, M. Altaf & Black, T. Andrew & Morgenstern, Kai, 2007. "Energy and water exchanges modulated by soil–plant nitrogen cycling in a temperate Pacific Northwest conifer forest," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 201(3), pages 331-347.
    4. Cairns, Robert D. & Lasserre, Pierre, 2006. "Implementing carbon credits for forests based on green accounting," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(4), pages 610-621, April.
    5. Steven W. Leavitt & Li Cheng & David G. Williams & Talbot Brooks & Bruce A. Kimball & Paul J. Pinter & Gerard W. Wall & Michael J. Ottman & Allan D. Matthias & Eldor A. Paul & Thomas L. Thompson & Nea, 2022. "Soil Organic Carbon Isotope Tracing in Sorghum under Ambient CO 2 and Free-Air CO 2 Enrichment (FACE)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Pawelzik, P. & Carus, M. & Hotchkiss, J. & Narayan, R. & Selke, S. & Wellisch, M. & Weiss, M. & Wicke, B. & Patel, M.K., 2013. "Critical aspects in the life cycle assessment (LCA) of bio-based materials – Reviewing methodologies and deriving recommendations," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 211-228.
    7. Binkley, Clark S. & Brand, David & Harkin, Zoe & Bull, Gary & Ravindranath, N. H. & Obersteiner, Michael & Nilsson, Sten & Yamagata, Yoshiki & Krott, Max, 2002. "Carbon sink by the forest sector--options and needs for implementation," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 4(1), pages 65-77, May.

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