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Selection of tree species and proper technology of afforestation of post-industrial sites play a crucial role in new ecosystem stability and success of the restoration. There is still current discussion about the effectiveness of different methods in the production of seedlings for extreme site conditions. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the seedling production method on the growth of 6-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees planted on reclaimed post-industrial sites in southern Poland. We compared four methods of seedling production: bare root system, containerized without and with inoculation of ectomycorrhizal fungi Laccaria bicolor (Maire) P.D. Orton, and Hebeloma crustuliniforme (Bull.) Quél. The experiment was carried out independently on two reclaimed sites: a post-sand-mining site in Bukowno, and a heavy metal polluted site in Miasteczko Śląskie. The effect of the seedling production method on tree growth expressed by height, root collar diameter, above- and belowground biomass of different tree components was analyzed on 240 sampled trees using analysis of variance and general linear model. In addition, the effect of the seedling production method on the root-to-shoot ratio was investigated. Scots pine tree growth was significantly affected by the seedling production method on heavy metal polluted site. The lowest tree growth parameters were observed in trees planted with bare roots, whereas the largest values were in the case of trees planted from containerized seedlings inoculated with H. crustuliniforme. In contrast, on the post-sand-mining site, the treatment effect turned out to be insignificant. The effect on biomass allocation was observed in the case of both sites. Trees prepared with the bare root method differed in greater biomass allocation to the belowground from other treatment groups. The use of containerized seedlings or additionally inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi in heavy metal contaminated sites improves the growth of trees and, although it is more costly and labor-intensive compared to the production of seedlings with a bare root system, should be preferred. In the post-sand-mining area, no effect of the seedling production method on tree growth was observed, and the use of bare root seedlings will be equally effective and additionally less time and cost-consuming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most economically important European timber trees, there is still insufficient data about biomass variability and its relationships with stand features. Therefore, we aimed: (1) to develop biomass models for different aboveground biomass components at tree and stand levels, as well as biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs), (2) to assess the relationships between stand parameters and aboveground biomass and BCEFs and (3) to compare stand biomass obtained using BCEFs with models developed based on stand parameters (age, basal area, stand volume and mean height). Using a chronosequence (3–117 years old) of 120 plots within even-aged pure Scots pine stands and 791 sample trees, we prepared tree- and stand-level allometric equations and BCEFs for aboveground biomass determination. Using stand age, density, stand volume and mean height, we prepared a set of models for biomass and BCEFs. Our study indicated that stand biomass increased with increasing height, volume and age and with decreasing stand density during stand development. Stand-level models provided better accuracy than BCEF-based models. The best predictors of biomass were stand volume and mean height. We also confirmed highly dynamic increases in stand biomass and decreases in BCEFs in the youngest phase of stand growth and relative stabilization in later stages of Scots pine stand development. The models obtained may be used in large-scale forest biomass inventories and increase our knowledge of carbon sequestration in forest biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Bilberry benefits from forest land use continuity and Scots pine planting. • Northern red oak admixture in pine monoculture contributes to bilberry decline. • Bilberry cover, aboveground biomass and fruit yield decrease under closed canopies. • Northern red oak presence modifies biomass allocation in bilberry shoots. Abstract Tree species diversity can positively affect numerous forest functions. This is why Scots pine monocultures, widely promoted in Central Europe since the 18th Century, are converted into mixed stands, also with broadleaved species of alien origin. Here we studied the impacts of Northern red oak (Quercus rubra) introduction and forest continuity (ancient vs. recent forests) on bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) – a dominant component of the forest understory and very important ecosystem services provider in temperate coniferous (Pinus sylvestris) forests. We measured bilberry cover, density and height of shoots, fruit productivity (number and biomass of berries) as well as biomass of stems and leaves. 2000 bilberry shoots (ramets) were collected in 200 plots located in four types of Scots pine forest in central Poland: recent and ancient forests, with and without Q. rubra. At the individual (ramet) level we found decreased aboveground biomass and fruiting leaf mass fraction of bilberry in recent pine monoculture and in both types of forest with Q. rubra. Presence of Q. rubra also modified the trajectory of the allometric relationship between biomass and height: plants with the same height had lower biomass. At the population level we found a decrease of shoot density, biomass and fruiting, which resulted from effects at the individual shoot level and from lower density. At the ecosystem level these relationships were modified by decreased cover of bilberry in the understory layer and bilberry fruit biomass in recent forests (with and without Q. rubra) and in ancient forest with Q. rubra. Results clearly indicated that V. myrtillus benefited from the continuity of Scots pine forests and declined after Q. rubra introduction. As V. myrtillus serves as shelter and provides food for numerous animal species, decreases in bilberry cover and biomass can have far-reaching consequences for biodiversity and population dynamics of numerous species which occur naturally in Scots pine forests. Results show that it can also result in a decrease in availability of non-wood forest products. Therefore, as part of sustainable forest management, we suggest limiting admixture of invasive Q. rubra (as well as other broadleaved species) into pine monocultures in areas with abundant V. myrtillus cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the production and allocation of biomass in young, spontaneous silver birch afforestation occurring on post-agricultural lands in the Mazowsze region (central Poland). We investigated 114 sample plots of age varying from 1 to 19 years. During the first 15 years after their establishment on abandoned farmland, the naturally regenerated silver birch stands produced on average approximately 75 tons of dry biomass per hectare. The major (50-70%) part of this biomass was stored in the tree stems and this share increased with age. The fractions of biomass in the foliage and roots decreased over time, while the share of biomass in the branches remained rather constant. The significant age-dependency of the allometric relationships suggested the need to use age-sensitive biomass expansion factors to estimate the biomass from the stem volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analyzed chronosequences of Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica stands. • We found small differences in biomass allocation, production and carbon content. • This increases the transferability of models used in carbon inventories. • We provided tree- and stand-level models for biomass and carbon mass estimates. Despite different levels of complexity among biomass models, it is unclear how much patterns of biomass production and allocation differ between mountain and lowland forests, and how much neglecting this difference biases carbon pool estimations. To address this question, we studied chronosequences of 24 Fagus sylvatica and 24 Picea abies stands in Poland, located both in lowlands and highlands (12 stands of each species per category). We cut and weighted 192 sample trees, and we measured carbon content in wood, bark, branches and leaves. We also developed allometric tree- and stand-level models of biomass and carbon mass. Using log-transformed linear models we checked the effect sizes of elevation category (lowland and highland) on estimate output. We found small, statistically insignificant differences in biomass allocation patterns, carbon content and allometric trajectories in trees between lowland and highland stands. Tree-level allometric models without elevation category had higher accuracy than models including elevation category and explained 96.8–99.8% of biomass variability. Biomass and carbon stock of species studied was positively correlated with stand volume, age, basal area and height, and negatively with stand density. However, the differences between lowlands and highlands were low and did not exceed 38 Mg ha−1 (for P. abies foliage biomass, with model root mean squared error of 37.638 Mg ha−1). Our results revealed transferability of models developed using lowland and highland populations of the studied species. This will increase confidence in methods used to estimate carbon pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We provided a complete set of tree- and stand-level models for biomass and carbon content of silver firAbies alba. This allows for better characterization of forest carbon pools in Central Europe than previously published models. The best predictor of biomass at the stand level is stand volume, and the worst are stand basal area and density. Context: Among European forest-forming tree species with high economic and ecological significance, Abies alba Mill. is the least characterized in terms of biomass production. Aims: To provide a comprehensive set of tree- and stand-level models for A. alba biomass and carbon stock. We hypothesized that (among tree stand characteristics) volume will be the best predictor of tree stand biomass. Methods: We studied a chronosequence of 12 A. alba tree stands in southern Poland (8–115 years old). We measured tree stand structures, and we destructively sampled aboveground biomass of 96 sample trees (0.0–63.9 cm diameter at breast height). We provided tree-level models, biomass conversion and expansion factors (BCEFs) and biomass models based on forest stand characteristics. Results: We developed general and site-specific tree-level biomass models. For stand-level models, we found that the best predictor of biomass was stand volume, while the worst were stand basal area and density. Conclusion: Our models performed better than other published models, allowing for more reliable biomass predictions. Models based on volume are useful in biomass predictions and may be used in large-scale inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]