Carbon and nitrogen distribution across a chronosequence of secondary lacebark pine in China

Information about carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools is lacking for lacebark pine forests. Ecosystem C (93.38–240.34 Mg C ha−1) and N (6.60–8.63 Mg N ha−1) increased with stand age. This pattern applied to all tree components and litter. However, changes in C and N stocks during stand development showed the reverse U-shaped pattern for the understory and for mineral soil. Mineral soil was the dominant N pool for all stands (79%–96%) and the largest C pool in younger stands (53%–71%). Trees were the largest C pool in older stands (55%–62%). The contribution of trees to ecosystem C and N pools increased with stand age but that of mineral soil decreased with stand age. These findings contribute to the development and evaluation of forest C and N storage models and to forest management for enhancing C sequestration.