Determination of aboveground and underground biomass and carbon storage amounts of pure and mixed natural black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.)) stands in Samsun region

In this study, the effects of different cover, slope and some physical and chemical properties of soils on the above-ground, soil and subsoil biomass and carbon (C) storage amounts of pure larch, larch-yellow pine and larch-oak mixed natural stands were investigated. The study was carried out in 88 sample areas determined by random sampling method from the aforementioned stands within the boundaries of Atakum and Boğaziçi Forest Management Directorates. Above-ground, soil and subsoil components were sampled in these selected sample areas. The middle tree method was used to estimate the C storage amounts of the trees. Correlation analysis and multiple variance analysis were used to determine the relationships between the variables obtained. As a result of the study, the average amount of organic C in total vegetative mass in Çk, ÇkÇs and ÇkM stands was calculated as 46.068 t/ha, 47.85 t/ha and 53.08 t/ha, respectively. The amount of organic C stored in the soil was 119.42 t/ha, 103.07 t/ha and 100.88 t/ha in Çk, ÇkÇs and ÇkM stands, respectively. Soils in all stands were generally heavy clay (mean 58.26%), slightly alkaline (mean 7.74%) and very calcareous (mean 31.53%). Land slope had no effect on biomass and carbon storage (B-CS) and B-CS varied according to closure. In addition, when all stands were compared with each other, it was determined that stand characteristics played a more effective role on C storage than soil characteristics.