earticle

한국어

This study aimed to develop biomass allometric equations of larch (Larix kaempferi) saplings to estimate carbon storage in early-stage plantations. In a Japanese larch plantation located in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, we selected 12 six-year-old larch saplings with diameters at breast height (DBH) ranging from 1 cm to 6 cm in December 2023 and March 2024. Their height, crown width, and root collar diameter (RCD) were measured prior to harvesting the entire saplings, including their roots. The biomass estimation model based on RCD (r2＞0.99) demonstrated higher accuracy compared to the model based on DBH (r2＞0.84) for predicting the total biomass of larch saplings. In the early-stage larch plantation, the carbon stock of woody components, estimated using the biomass allometric equations developed in this study, was 1.58±0.12 t C ha-1. Among biomass distribution components, branches accounted for the largest proportion (37.0%), followed by stems (32.7%) and roots (30.3%). Crown width was strongly correlated with root biomass (r=0.93). These findings suggest that carbon stock estimates of sapling branches can substantially influence the overall carbon stock of early-stage plantations, highlighting the need to reassess previously underestimated carbon stocks in such plantations. The biomass allometric equations developed in this study significantly improve the accuracy of initial carbon stock and uptake estimations in reforested or restored areas with larch. Additionally, they provide valuable information for quantitative productivity assessments in early-stage plantations.