TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wiesmeier, Martin
A1  - Prietzel, Jörg
A1  - Barthold, Frauke Katrin
A1  - Spörlein, Peter
A1  - Geuss, Uwe
A1  - Hangen, Edzard
A1  - Reischl, Arthur
A1  - Schilling, Bernd
A1  - von Lützow, Margit
A1  - Kögel-Knabner, Ingrid
T1  - Storage and drivers of organic carbon in forest soils of southeast Germany (Bavaria) - Implications for carbon sequestration
JF  - Forest ecology and management
N2  - Temperate forest soils of central Europe are regarded as important pools for soil organic carbon (SOC) and thought to have a high potential for carbon (C) sequestration. However, comprehensive data on total SOC storage, particularly under different forest types, and its drivers is limited. In this study, we analyzed a forest data set of 596 completely sampled soil profiles down to the parent material or to a depth of 1 m within Bavaria in southeast Germany in order to determine representative SOC stocks under different forest types in central Europe and the impact of different environmental parameters. We calculated a total median SOC stock of 9.8 kg m(-2) which is considerably lower compared with many other inventories within central Europe that used modelled instead of measured soil properties. Statistical analyses revealed climate as controlling parameter for the storage of SOC with increasing stocks in cool, humid mountainous regions and a strong decrease in areas with higher temperatures. No significant differences of total SOC storage were found between broadleaf, coniferous and mixed forests. However, coniferous forests stored around 35% of total SOC in the labile organic layer that is prone to human disturbance, forest fires and rising temperatures. In contrast, mixed and broadleaf forests stored the major part of SOC in the mineral soil. Moreover, these two forest types showed unchanged or even slightly increased mineral SOC stocks with higher temperatures, whereas SOC stocks in mineral soils under coniferous forest were distinctly lower. We conclude that mixed and broadleaf forests are more advantageous for C sequestration than coniferous forests. An intensified incorporation of broadleaf species in extent coniferous forests of Bavaria would prevent substantial SOC losses as a result of rising temperatures in the course of climate change.
KW  - Tree species effect
KW  - Soil organic matter
KW  - Climate change
KW  - Forest management
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.01.025
SN  - 0378-1127
VL  - 295
IS  - 10
SP  - 162
EP  - 172
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Amsterdam
ER  -