Ecological assessment of carbon and nitrogen accumulation in root, soil and litter in oriental spruce afforestations (Picea orientalis (L.) Link) of Karadag mountain

Determination of carbon and nitrogen amounts besides biomass in forest ecosystems is important in our centery when global warming is increasing. In this study; in addition to the different stand development stages (SDS) and aspect, the effect of land slope on the carbon and nitrogen amounts of soil, litter and roots in oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link) afforestation areas were investigated. For this purpose, the research was carried out in 98 samples in the Karadağ mountain mass within the borders of Trabzon Regional Directorate of Forestry, Akçaabat and Vakfikebir Forest Enterprise. The altitude, slope, aspect, canopy and ds of the sample areas were determined and the diameters of the trees (d1,3) were measured during the field studies. In addition, soil, root, and litter samples were taken from the sample areas and analyzed in the laboratory. As a result of the study, the average carbon stock (Ct) was found to be 35,7 t/ha, and the nitrogen stock (Nt) was 2,7 t/ha in the soils of the oriental spruce afforestation areas. Litter biomass, Ct and Nt were determined as 12 t/ha, 4,1 t/ha and 0,2 t/ha, respectively. Root biomass, Ct and Nt were also determined as 23,2 t/ha, 9,8 t/ha and 0,2 t/ha, respectively. It was found that the sand ratios in the soils increased as the southerly aspects increased, and the slope of the land increased. It was determined that the carbon content and nitrogen content of the a stand development stages soils were the lowest. It was found that the carbon stock and content as well as the capillary, fine root carbon (FRC) stock and contents of the soils of the forest openings areas were higher than the afforestation areas. It was determined that the root and litter biomass and FRC content generally increased with the increasing in the stand SDS. Small root nitrogen and carbon content were also determined at the highest in the SDS of bc. In addition to all these results, it was found that the root biomass at some diameter levels, the amount of stored carbon and nitrogen, as well as the Nt of the soils increased in southern aspects.