Carbon and Nitrogen Distribution of Tree Components in Larix kaempferi Carriere and Quercus variabilis Blume Stands in Gyeongnam Province

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) distribution within tree components (i.e., stem, branches, leaves, and roots) of the Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carriere) plantation and natural oriental cork oak (Quercus variabilis Blume) stands. Fifteen Japanese larch and 15 oriental cork oak trees were destructively sampled to compare the C and N stocks in the components of the trees from three different regions—Hadong-gun, Hamyang-gun and Sancheong-gun—in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea. Species-specific allometric equations were developed to estimate the C and N contents in the tree components based on the diameter at breast height (DBH). There were differences in mean C and N concentrations between the Japanese larch and the oriental cork oak. The mean C concentrations of the tree componentswere significantly higher in Japanese larch than in oriental cork oak; whereas, the N concentration in the stems was significantly lower in Japanese larch than in oriental cork oak. The allometric equations developed for C and N content were significant (p < 0.05) with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.76 to 0.99. The C and N stocks in the tree components do not appear to be affected by the species such as Japanese larch plantations and oriental cork oak stands. This study emphasizes the importance of C and N concentrations to estimate the C and N distribution according to tree components in different tree species.