• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2021

In this study, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) inputs by the litterfall of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) planted in pine wilt disease-disturbed forests were determined. The study sites were located in Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. Eight plots under two regeneration sites (DR: four plots of C. obtusa planted under slightly disturbed Pinus thunbergii stands; CR: four plots of C. obtusa planted following the clear-cutting of severely disturbed pine stands) were established to collect litterfall from December 2018 to December 2019. The growth of diameter at breast height (DBH) was significantly higher in the CR treatment (12.10 cm) than that in the DR treatment (9.42 cm). C and N concentrations and the C/N ratio in C. obtusa leaf litter did not differ significantly between the two regeneration treatments, but the C/N ratio was significantly lower in the leaf litter collected in October (93) relative to that collected in December (143). The C concentration of litterfall components was significantly higher in C. obtusa leaf litter and in P. thunbergii needle litter than in broadleaved and miscellaneous litter, whereas the N concentration in broadleaved and miscellaneous litter was significantly higher than that in the leaf litter of C. obtusa and in branch litter. Thus, the C/N ratio was significantly higher in C. obtusa leaf litter and branch litter compared with that in miscellaneous and broadleaved litter. Respective C and N inputs by leaf litter were 773 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 6.95 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for the CR treatments, and 78 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 0.70 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for the DR treatment. Total C and N inputs were higher for the DR treatment (3,765 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 47.6 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively) than for the CR treatment (1,290 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and 17.2 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively). These results indicate that, for C. obtusa, the DBH growth in the CR treatment was superior to that in the DR treatment, but the C and N inputs by litterfall were considerably reduced in CR treatments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.365-373
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• 2022

We compared carbon stocks in tree biomass and soils of Quercus acutissima, Q. mongolica, Q. serrata, and Q. variabilis stands. A total of 531 plots (Q. acutissima: 110 plots, Q. mongolica: 177 plots, Q. serrata: 96 plots, Q. variabilis: 148 plots) were examined between 2016 and 2021 to determine the tree biomass and soil carbon stocks throughout the country. The carbon stocks of tree biomass were significantly higher in Q. mongolica (mean stand age, 57 years, 144.9 Mg C ha^-1) than in Q. variabilis (mean stand age, 43 years, 123.7 Mg C ha^-1), Q. serrata (mean stand age, 43 years, 120.1 Mg C ha^-1), and Q. acutissima (mean stand age, 36 years, 113.2 Mg C ha^-1) stands. The soil carbon concentration was significantly higher in Q. mongolica (A: 43.1 mg C g-1) than in Q. serrata (31.0 mg C g-1), Q. variabilis (25.31 mg C g-1), and Q. acutissima (24.4 mg C g-1) stands. The soil carbon stocks were significantly higher in Q. mongolica (116.8 Mg C ha^-1) than in Q. acutissima (49.3 Mg C ha^-1) stands. Total carbon stocks of tree biomass and soil were highest in Q. mongolica (262 Mg C ha^-1), followed by Q. serrata (218 Mg C ha^-1), Q. variabilis (211 Mg C ha^-1), and Q. acutissima (163 Mg C ha^-1) stands. Multiple linear regressions were performed to estimate the total carbon stocks of the four Quercus spp., and results showed that total carbon stocks increased with increasing elevation, mean diameter at breast height, and basal areas. Basal area and elevation of Quercus spp. stands were important explanatory variables based on multiple linear regressions for estimating carbon stocks.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.259-272
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• 2023

This study set up 49 survey areas with an area of about 400 square meters in Abies koreana natural habitat to identify the species composition and vegetation structure of the A. koreana forest in the Mt. Jiri Nation Park, conducted field surveys using phytosociological methods, and performed the cluster analysis using the Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) and Table manipulation. Subsequently, species composition analysis using the importance value, species diversity analysis, DBH analysis, sapling analysis, and similarity analysis was conducted by each cluster type. The cluster analysis classified the A. koreana forest in Mt. Jiri into five clusters, A, B, C, D, and E. The forest was divided into two clusters, Magnolia sieboldii-Dryopteris crassirhizoma-Sasa borealis and Betula ermanii-Solidago virgaurea-Calamagrostis arundinacea. The former was classified as type A and B by Cornus controversa-Hydrangea macrophylla, and the latter was classified as type E, a typical community, and a Sorbus commixta-Rhododendron mucronulatum cluster. And the S. commixta-R. mucronulatum cluster was divided into C type and D type by Picea jezoensis-Ligularia fischeri and Ainsliaea acerifolia. Through vegetation analysis, the importance value of A. koreana, Quercus mongolica, Acer pseudosieboldianum, Fraxinus sieboldiana, and B. ermanii was highly expressed in the A. koreana forest in Mt. Jiri. Regarding species diversity, the results were similar to those reported in other studies of A. koreana forests in Mt. Jiri. The analysis of diameter at breast height (DBH) showed that A. koreana dominated all layers, and the growth of saplings was also good, indicating that the dominance of A. koreana is expected to continue for a while. However, when considering the value of biodiversity that is expected to increase and threats caused by climate change, systematic preservation and management are required to respond to various threats based on continuous monitoring.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.2
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• pp.127-135
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• 2023

This study aimed to develop biomass allometric equations and estimate carbon emission factors, such as the wood density, biomass-expansion factor, and root-to-shoot ratio, for Platanus occidentalis and Metasequoia glyptostroboides planted in urban areas. Twenty M. glyptostroboides and 25 P. occidentalis trees were harvested, and the dry weights and stem volumes of stems, branches, leaves, and roots (>5 mm) were measured. The wood densities of M. glyptostroboides and P. occidentalis were 0.293 ± 0.008 g cm^-3 and 0.509 ± 0.018 g cm^-3, and the biomass-expansion factors were 1.738 ± 0.031 and 1.561 ± 0.035. The root-to-shoot ratios were 0.446 ± 0.009 and 0.402 ± 0.012. The uncertainty tests (coefficient of variation, %) gave 2.8% and 3.5% values for wood density, 1.8% and 2.3% for biomass-expansion factor, and 2.1% and 2.9% for root-to-shoot ratio, respectively. Among the developed allometric equations, Model I using the diameter at breast height (DBH) was suitable. The allometric equations of M. glyptostroboides and P. occidentalis above ground were y = 1.679 (DBH)^1.315 and y = 0.505 (DBH)^1.896, and the allometric equations of the root and total were y = 0.746 (DBH)^1.315, y = 0.301 (DBH)^1.751, y = 2.422 (DBH)^1.316, and y = 0.787 (DBH)^1.858. If the carbon-emission factors of this study and biomass allometric equations of the three developed models are used to estimate the carbon storage and biomass of urban forests, errors caused by not considering the use of fixed factors and the environmental differences can be reduced.