Silvana M.J. Sione, Silvia G. Ledesma, Pablo G. Aceñolaza, Marcelo G. Wilson. (2022). Biomass Carbon and Nitrogen allocation in different tree species: do tree compartments and size affect C:N relationship? Silva Fennica vol. 56 no. 4 article id 10757. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.10757

Keywords: Neltuma nigra; Neltuma affinis; Vachellia caven; biomass compartments; C:N ratio; native forests

Highlights: C:N relationship variations in biomass compartments were positively correlated with N concentration and did not exhibit significant association with C; C:N ratios differed significantly among species and compartments; Only in Neltuma affinis and Vachellia caven stems C:N relationship differed among tree size.

Abstract | Full text in HTML | Full text in PDF | Author Info

Tree carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations and C:N ratio are critical for understanding the elemental compositions of forests, N use efficiency, productivity and the biogeochemical cycles. We evaluate differences in C and N allocation among biomass compartments of three N‑fixing tree species of Espinal Argentine eco-region; the scaling relationship between C and N and the C:N ratio variation among compartments and tree size. Neltuma affinis (Spreng.) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis, Neltuma nigra (Griseb.) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis and Vachellia caven (Molina) Seigler & Ebinger plants (n = 30 for each species) were felled, grouped by stem basal diameter-based size classes and partitioned into 3 biomass compartments: stem (st), large branches (lb) and small branches + leaves, flowers and fruits (sbl). C and N concentrations were markedly influenced by species and biomass compartments. In general, sbl compartment presented more N than the st and lb, while C concentrations in Neltuma stems were the highest. Overall, no isometric C–N scaling relationships were found in different compartments. C:N variations in compartments were positively correlated with N concentrations but did not exhibit any significant association with C concentrations. C:N ratios differed significantly among species and biomass compartments. The C:N ratio for compartments ranked in an order of st > lb > sbl. C:N ratio variability in sbl was the least. Only in N. affinis and V. caven stems C:N relationship differed among tree size. Our results provide evidence of the importance of using in situ C and N concentration per main tree species and biomass compartments, to more accurate estimates of C and N stocks.

Sione, National University of Entre Ríos, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ruta 11 Km 10,5 (3101) Oro Verde, Entre Ríos, Argentina; CICyTTP-CONICET (National Research and Technological Investigation Council), Materi y España (3105) Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2119-0363 E-mail: silvana.sione@fca.uner.edu.ar
Ledesma, National University of Entre Ríos, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ruta 11 Km 10,5 (3101) Oro Verde, Entre Ríos, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9264-1766 E-mail: silvia.ledesma@fca.uner.edu.ar
Aceñolaza, National University of Entre Ríos, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ruta 11 Km 10,5 (3101) Oro Verde, Entre Ríos, Argentina; CICyTTP-CONICET (National Research and Technological Investigation Council), Materi y España (3105) Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5033-3466 E-mail: pablo.acenolaza@fca.uner.edu.ar
Wilson, National University of Entre Ríos, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ruta 11 Km 10,5 (3101) Oro Verde, Entre Ríos, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1214-1041 E-mail: wilson.marcelo@inta.gob.ar

Click this link to register to Silva Fennica.

If you are a registered user, log in to save your selected articles for later access.

Contents alert

Your selected articles

Follow @SilvaFennica