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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2020, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (12): 10-18.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20201202

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Potential of Phytolith-Occluded Organic Carbon Sequestration in Masson Pine Stands at Different Ages in Subtropical China

Kai Sun1,Jiasen Wu1,2,Weixing Sheng3,Peikun Jiang2,*,Yunqing Zhang1,Jiangfei Ge1   

  1. 1. College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University Lin'an 311300
    2. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture Lin'an 311300
    3. Jiande Forestry Bureau Jiande 311600
  • Received:2019-04-02 Online:2020-12-25 Published:2021-01-22
  • Contact: Peikun Jiang

Abstract:

Objective: This study reveals the phytolith and phytolith occuluded carbon (PhytOC) storage in the aboveground organ of Pinus massoniana plantations at different stand ages in subtropical China, and measures the PhytOC sequestration potential in P. massoniana plantations, and provides a scientific basis for long-term carbon sequestration research in P. massoniana plantations. Method: We used a chronosequence approach to examine the effect of stand age on the above-ground part of plant PhytOC storage by sampling 15, 24, 36, 55, and 63 a P. massoniana stands. Phytoliths were extracted by microwave digestion method, and the C concentration in phytoliths was determined. Result: The distribution of phytolith and PhytOC concentrations in above-ground biomass of P. massoniana varied among different organs of the pine trees (P < 0.05). Phytolith concentration decreased in the order of leaf (1.829 g·kg-1) > branch (0.771 g·kg-1) > trunk (0.452 g·kg-1). PhytOC concentration decreased in the order of leaf (0.357 g·kg-1) > branch (0.172 g·kg-1) > trunk (0.104 g·kg-1). Both phytolith and PhytOC concentrations in leaves and branches were affected by age (P < 0.05), while no differences were observed for C in per unit of phytolith in the above-ground biomass (P>0.05). Phytolith concentration in leaves differed with stand age in the order:55 a (2.358 g·kg-1) > 63 a (1.923 g·kg-1) > 36 a (1.719 g·kg-1) > 24 a (1.655 g·kg-1) > 15 a (1.489 g·kg-1). Leaf phytolith concentrations were negatively correlated with concentrations of available silicon (R2=0.27, P < 0.05) and pH (R2=0.45, P < 0.05) in the 0-10 cm soil layer. PhytOC storage in branches and trunks accounted for 20.7% and 69.2% of the total storage, respectively. PhytOC storage in above-ground biomass was affected by age and decreased in the order of 55 a (15.97 kg·hm-2) > 63 a (15.54 kg·hm-2) > 36 a (10.63 kg·hm-2) > 15 a (10.46 kg·hm-2) > 24 a (10.13 kg·hm-2). The annual PhytOC sequestration rate in the above-ground part of Masson pine stands was affected by age, decreasing in the order as follows:15 a (10.94 kgCO2·hm-2a-1) > 24 a (9.97 kgCO2·hm-2a-1) > 36 a (7.20 kgCO2·hm-2a-1) > 55 a (5.10 kgCO2·hm-2a-1) > 63 a (4.76 kgCO2·hm-2a-1). Conclusion: Both plant organ and age significantly affected the phytolith and PhytOC concentrations (P < 0.05). Taking the area of 1.20×107 hm2 of P. massoniana stands in subtropical China and the mean PhytOC production flux of 7.58 kgCO2·hm-2a-1, it was estimated approximately 91 000 t CO2·a-1 being sequestered in P. massoniana phytoliths.

Key words: Pinus massoniana, above-ground apart, PhytOC, PhytOC sequestration potential

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