Estimation of biomass and carbon stock in uneven-aged beech stands in eastern Serbia

Abstract

The problem of estimating biomass and carbon stock in beech high stands that have specific structural form and that used to be virgin forests at the beginning of the twentieth century was investigated. A set of five stands was selected. Their site class is II-IV and the altitude ranges from 450 to 1050 m. A systematic sample of circular sample plots of 500 m(2) in size was applied. A set of 111 established sample plots altogether was used for the measurements of diameters and heights of all living trees and dead (standing and fallen) wood. Regression equations for European beech (WUTZLER et al., 2008; JOOSTEN et al., 2004) were used for the purposes of calculating total biomass and tree carbon stock. Biomass of dead wood was calculated on the basis of wood volume and density (MUND, 2004). The estimated average above and belowground wood biomass (p = 0.95) of all stands is 310 +/- 19.31 t ha(-1), while the estimated average carbon stock amounts to 153 +/- 9.55 tC ha(-1). It can be concluded that the beech stands in Eastern Serbia have reduced biomass and carbon stock due to inadequate implementation of management systems.