Articles | Volume 9, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-609-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-609-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
07 Dec 2023
Original research article |
| 07 Dec 2023
| 07 Dec 2023
Soil organic carbon stocks did not change after 130 years of afforestation on a former Swiss Alpine pasture
Tatjana C. Speckert
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Jeannine Suremann
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Konstantin Gavazov
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Maria J. Santos
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Frank Hagedorn
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Guido L. B. Wiesenberg
Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Short summary
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is key player in the global carbon cycle. Afforestation on pastures potentially alters organic matter input and SOC sequestration. We investigated the effects of a Picea abies L. afforestation sequence (0 to 130 years) on a former subalpine pasture on SOC stocks and dynamics. We found no difference in the SOC stock after 130 years of afforestation and thus no additional SOC sequestration. SOC composition was altered due to a modified SOC input following afforestation.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is key player in the global carbon cycle. Afforestation on pastures...
