Estimating the soil carbon stocks for a Pinus densiflora forest using the soil carbon model, Yasso

Abstract

The soil carbon stock for a Pinus densiflora forest at Gwangneung, central Korea was estimated using the soil carbon model, Yasso. The soil carbon stock measured in the forest was 43.73 t C ha-1, and the simulated initial (steady state) soil carbon stock and the simulated current soil carbon stock in 2007 were 39.19 t C ha-1 and 38.90 t C ha-1, respectively. Under the assumption of a 0.1 °C increase in mean annual temperature per year, the decomposition and litter fractionation rates increased from 0.28 to 0.56% year-1 and the soil carbon stock decreased from 0.03 to 0.12% year-1. Yasso is a simple and general model that can be applied in cases where there is insufficient input information. However, in order to obtain more accurate estimates in Korea, parameters need to be recalibrated under Korean climatic and vegetation conditions. In addition, the Yasso model needs to be linked to other models to generate better litter input data.