Carbon storage and soil property changes following afforestation in mountain ecosystems of the Western Rhodopes, Bulgaria

Summary

This field study evaluated how afforestation of former cropland and abandoned grazing land in Bulgaria's Western Rhodope Mountains affects soil properties and carbon storage. Conversion from arable to coniferous plantation significantly reduced soil bulk density and increased acidity in upper soil layers, with most carbon sequestration occurring in aboveground tree biomass rather than soil. The research demonstrates that afforestation of cropland functions as a carbon sink, although results were less clear for afforestation on previously abandoned land with long cultivation history.

UK applicability

Findings may have limited direct applicability to UK conditions given the mountainous Mediterranean-continental climate of the Western Rhodopes and different soil parent material. However, the methodological approach to quantifying soil carbon changes following afforestation could inform UK upland reforestation schemes, though species selection and soil response patterns would likely differ.

Key measures

Soil bulk density, sand content, pH, organic carbon content, nitrogen content, C/N ratio, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, ecosystem carbon distribution

Outcomes reported

The study measured soil physical and chemical properties, soil organic carbon stocks, and whole-ecosystem carbon storage across four land-use types in mountain ecosystems. Afforestation of cropland significantly altered soil bulk density, pH, and carbon stocks, with most ecosystem carbon stored in aboveground tree biomass.

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