Root Biomass and Carbon Storage in Abies nordmanniana S. subsp. bornmülleriana (Mattf.) Stands (Western Black Sea Region)

Abstract

The forests of the world contain 80% of all aboveground carbon (C) and 40% of the entire belowground terrestrial C. It has been estimated that substantial amounts of belowground C may be released into the atmosphere this century, contributing significantly to global warming. Although root biomass constitutes an important component of total carbon storage in a forest, the difficulties in measuring it often lead to the lack of this component in estimating carbon sequestration. In forests, where below-ground C biomass is more than twice than the aboveground components, it is important to study the below-ground system of fine roots that may greatly influence C dynamics and may be a key indicator of ecosystem response to global change. The coarse root component is comprised of larger, structural roots which provide support for the above-ground portion and can account for approximately 30% of total biomass in forest ecosystem. Fine roots have also been regarded as short-lived and recognized as the most important component contributing to belowground C fluxes in forest ecosystems, accounting for up to 75% of the annual net primary production. The aim of this study is to quantify biomass and carbon storage in roots (fine, small and coarse roots) and to develop allometric equations to estimate root biomass from easily measurable tree parameters for Abies nordmanniana S. subsp. bornmülleriana (Mattf.) in western Black Sea region.