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Cited by 748Soil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsForest ecology and managementForest Management and Policy

Tamm Review: Influence of forest management activities on soil organic carbon stocks: A knowledge synthesis

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Mayer, Mathias, Prescott, Cindy E., Abaker, Wafa E.A., Augusto, Laurent, Cécillon, Lauric, Ferreira, Gabriel W.D., James, Jason, Jandl, Robert +8 more·2020·Forest Ecology and Management
DOI 10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118127
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Abstract

Almost half of the total organic carbon (C) in terrestrial ecosystems is stored in forest soils. By altering rates of input or release of C from soils, forest management activities can influence soil C stocks in forests. In this review, we synthesize current evidence regarding the influences of 13 common forest management practices on forest soil C stocks. Afforestation of former croplands generally increases soil C stocks, whereas on former grasslands and peatlands, soil C stocks are unchanged or even reduced following afforestation. The conversion of primary forests to secondary forests generally reduces soil C stocks, particularly if the land is converted to an agricultural land-use prior to reforestation. Harvesting, particularly clear-cut harvesting, generally results in a reduction in soil C stocks, particularly in the forest floor and upper mineral soil. Removal of residues by harvesting whole-trees and stumps negatively affects soil C stocks. Soil disturbance from site preparation decreases soil C stocks, particularly in the organic top soil, however improved growth of tree seedlings may outweigh soil C losses over a rotation. Nitrogen (N) addition has an overall positive effect on soil C stocks across a wide range of forest ecosystems. Likewise, higher stocks and faster accumulation of soil C occur under tree species with N-fixing associates. Stocks and accumulation rates of soil C also differ under different tree species, with coniferous species accumulating more C in the forest floor and broadleaved species tending to store more C in the mineral soil. There is some evidence that increased tree species diversity could positively affect soil C stocks in temperate and subtropical forests, but tree species identity, particularly N-fixing species, seems to have a stronger impact on soil C stocks than tree species diversity. Management of stand density and thinning have small effects on forest soil C stocks. In forests with high populations of ungulate herbivores, reduction in herbivory levels can increase soil C stocks. Removal of plant biomass for fodder and fuel is related to a reduction in the soil C stocks. Fire management practices such as prescribed burning reduce soil C stocks, but less so than wildfires which are more intense. For each practice, we identify existing gaps in knowledge and suggest research to address the gaps.

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  • Residue removal or whole-tree harvest can cause soil disturbance and remove root, stump, or bark biomass that would otherwise contribute to soil organic matter cycling, including recalcitrant carbon pools.

    “Likewise, residue removal or whole-tree harvest can also cause soil disturbance, and remove root, stump, or bark biomass that would otherwise be part of soil organic matter cycling, including the formation of recalcitrant carbon pools (19).”

    From Restoring Degraded Lands (2021) · cites this paper as [19]

    Section 5 (Removal of harvest residues; page unavailable) identifies bark and roots as harvest residues and says stump harvesting causes additional soil disturbance and reduces root litter input. It does not establish that residue removal or whole-tree harvesting generally causes that disturbance. Section 5.2 (Gaps in knowledge and research needs; page unavailable) says the effects of residue management on labile and recalcitrant carbon pools need further study, so the claim about formation of recalcitrant pools is not established. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Soil disturbance accompanying clear-cutting reduces soil carbon on average by approximately 10%, with larger losses in forest floor and organic soil horizons.

    “For instance, soil disturbance accompanying clear-cutting reduces soil carbon on average by approximately 10% with much larger losses in forest floor and organic soil horizons (19).”

    From Restoring Degraded Lands (2021) · cites this paper as [19]

    Section 4 (Harvesting; page not provided) reports average soil-carbon losses of 8% and 11.2% after harvesting, with larger losses in forest-floor and organic horizons. But it does not attribute those average losses specifically to soil disturbance accompanying clear-cutting; it principally relates losses to reduced carbon inputs and/or faster decomposition. Section 6 discusses soil disturbance from site preparation separately. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Mayer, M., Prescott, C. E., Abaker, W. E. A., Augusto, L., Cécillon, L., Ferreira, G. W. D., James, J., Jandl, R., Katzensteiner, K., Laclau, J.-P., Laganière, J., Nouvellon, Y., Paré, D., Stanturf, J. A., Vanguelova, E. I., & Vesterdal, L.
Affiliations
  • Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (CH)
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
  • University of Khartoum (SD)
  • Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • University of Georgia (US)
  • Exponent (United States) (US)
  • Austrian Research Centre for Forests (AT)
  • BOKU University (AT)
  • Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
  • Canadian Forest Service (CA)
  • Estonian University of Life Sciences (EE)
  • Forest Research (GB)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Mayer, Mathias
ORCID
Venue
Forest Ecology and Management
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-06
Volume
466
Pages
118127
ISSN
0378-1127 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118127
OpenAlex
W3015945573
Cited by
748
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 89 · 2025: 153 · 2024: 145 · 2023: 125 · 2022: 114 · 2021: 99 · 2020: 22
FWCI
59.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Forest Ecology and Management (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DORA WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Agritrop (Cirad) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • INRAE
  • French agency for environment and energy management
  • French Ministry of agriculture and food (1660C0020)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Forest ecology and management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Forest Management and Policy
Keywords
forest soil organic carbon, forest management practices, afforestation, clear-cutting, soil preparation, nitrogen addition, nitrogen-fixing tree species, tree species diversity, stand density, thinning, ungulate herbivory, prescribed burning, forest fires, forest floor carbon, carbon sequestration

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