Effect of different management methods to carbon budget in pine stands on well drained organic soils.

In consequence of extensive drainage in the recent past, a large area of forests are growing on well drained organic soils in Estonia. The C balance of drained forest ecosystems is still an unclear issue and research results are highly variable. Pursuing climate smart forestry, the management of stands on drained organic soils needs special attention due to the high risk of C loss. In this aspect, clear-cut has a strong effect, turning a site in to a net C source. Estimation of post harvesting C loss and the recovery dynamics of C balance are key issues in elucidating the climate impact of clear-cut on drained forests. Partial cutting can be considered an alternative harvesting method with a potential to mitigate C loss in well drained forest. The main aim of the proposed project is to assess the effect of different harvesting methods on ecosystem’s C balance of by using the NEP method combined with of EC measurements in pine stands growing on well drained mesotrophic organic soils.