Sources of variation in ecosystem carbon pools: a comparison of adjacent old- and second-growth forests

In order to determine baseline levels of carbon storage in an ecosystem it is necessary to survey minimally disturbed areas. Few studies have examined ecosystem carbon storage for old-growth eastern deciduous forests. Soil sampling plots were stratified according to slope ( N = 3), aspect ( N = 2) and stand age ( N = 2) to investigate their effect on soil C variability in old (> 350 year-old) and adjacent second-growth (~ 60 year-old) oak-beech-maple stands in eastern Ohio. Aboveground biomass data in the old and adjacent second-growth stands were combined with the soil carbon and forest floor carbon data to produce an estimate of total forest system carbon. Total carbon stocks for the old-growth and second-growth stands (sums of above- and belowground data) were 257.4 and 220.9 Mg · ha ‾1 respectively. These data will be very useful in determining forest soil carbon stocks for young and old stands within the region.