A new methodology for estimating forest NPP based on forest inventory data—A case study of Chinese pine forest

Abstract

Accurately estimating forest net primary productivity (NPP) plays an important role in study of global carbon budget. A NPP model reflecting the synthetic effects of both biotic (forest stand age, A and stem volume, V) and climatic factors (mean annual actual evapotranspiration, E) was developed for Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) forest by making full use of Forest Inventory Data (FID) and dynamically assessing forest productivity. The NPP of Chinese pine forest was estimated by using this model and the fourth FID (1989–1993), and the spatial pattern of NPP of Chinese pine forest was given by Geography Information System (GIS) software. The results indicated that mean NPP value, of Chinese pine forest was 7.82 t m⁻²·a⁻¹ and varied at the range of 3.32–11.87 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹. NPP distribution of Chinese pine forests was significantly different in different regions, higher in the south and lower in the north of China. In terms of the main distribution regions of Chinese pine, the NPPs of Chinese pine forest in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces were in middle level, with an average NPP of 7.4 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹, that in the southern and the eastern parts (e.g. Shichuang Hunan, Henan, and Liaoning provinces) was higher (over 7.7 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹), and that in the northern part and western part (e.g. Neimenggu and Ningxia provinces) was lower (below 5 t hm⁻²·a⁻¹). This study provides an efficient way for using FID to understand the dynamics of foest NPP and evaluate its effects on global climate change.

Keywords

Forest NPP / Forest inventory data / Chinese pine forest / Climatic and biotic NPP model / Spatial distribution pattern / S727.22 / S757.2 / A

References

[1] Brown S.L., Schroeder P.E. Spatial patterns of aboveground production and mortality of woody biomass for eastern U.S. forest [J]. Ecological Applications, 1999, 9(3): 968-980.

[2] Lingzhi Chen, Jihai Ren, Xiancheng Bao et al. Studies on the sociological characteristic and biomass of pine plantation on Xishan in Beiling [J]. Acta Phytoecologica Et Geobotanica Sinica, 1984, 8(3): 173-181.

[3] Cihlar, J., Denning, A.S., and Gosz, J. (Eds.). 2000. Giobal terrestrial carbon observations: Requirements, present status and next steps. Report of a Synthesis Workshop, 8–11 February 2000, Ottawa, Canada. 101 p. Available at Http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/eduref/ref/biblioe.html.

[4] Curran P.J., Foody G.M. Food G.M., Curran P.J. Environmental Issues at regional to global scales [C] Environmental Remote Sensing from Regional to Global Scales, 1994 Chichester: Wiley and Sons 1-7.

[5] Dong Shiren, Yuxiu Guan Studies on productivity ofPinus tabulaeformis stands in Talyue mountain, Shanxi province [J]. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 1980, 1: 1-20.

[6] Duvigneaud P. La synthèse ècologique [C], 1987 Beijing, China: Chinese Science Press 82-82.

[7] Jingyun Fang, Guohua Liu, Shongling Xu Biomass and net production of forest vegetation in China [J]. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 1996, 16(4): 497-508.

[8] Fang J.Y., Chen A.P., Peng C.H. et al. Changes in forest biomass carbon storage in China between 1949 and 1998 [J]. Science, 2001, 292: 2320-2322.

[9] Jingyun Fang, Guohua Liu, Songling Xu Forest biomass of China: an estimation based on the biomass-volume relationship [J]. Ecological Applications, 1998, 8(4): 1084-1091.

[10] Forest Ministry of China Summary of forest resources in China (1989–1993) [M], 1994 Beijing, China: China Forestry Publishing House 68-90.

[11] Jiarong Gao Studies on the nutrient cycling ofPinus tabulaeformis in Huoditang, Qinling [J]. Journal of North-west Forestry University, 1987, 2(1): 23-35.

[12] Gilmanov T.G., Parton W.J., Ojima D.S. Testing the “Century” ecosystem level model on data sets from eight grassland sites in the former USSR representing a wide climate/soil gradient [J]. Ecological Modeling, 1997, 96(2): 191-210.

[13] Goodale C.L., Apps M.J., Birsdey R.A. et al. Forest carbon sinks in the northern hemisphere [J]. Ecological Applications, 2002, 12(1): 291-299.

[14] Grame M., Hall J., Susank W. et al. Stragies to estimate national forest carbon stocks from inventory data: the 1990 New Zealand baseline [J]. Global Change Biology, 2001, 7(4): 389-403.

[15] Yuxiu Guan, Shiren Dong Studies on Ecosystem ofPinsu Tabulaeformis Plantations (D) A comparison of productivity between the stands in Taiyue, Shanxi Province, and that in Chengde, Hebei Province [J]. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 1986, 1: 1-10.

[16] IGBP Terrestrial Carbon Working Group The terrestrial carbon cycle: Implication for the Koyoto Protocol [J]. Science, 1998, 280: 1393-1394.

[17] Jiang H., Apps M.J., Zhang Y.L. et al. Modelling the spatial pattern of net primary productivity in Chinese forests [J]. Ecological Modelling, 1999, 122(3): 275-288.

[18] Lefsky A.S., Harding D., Cohen W.B. et al. Surface lidar remote sensing of basal area and biomass in deciduous forests of eastern Maryland, USA [J]. Remote Sensing and Environment, 1999, 67(1): 83-98.

[19] Lieth H. Lieth H, Whittaker R.H. Modeling the primary productivity of the world [C] Primary Productivity of the Biosphere, 1977 Harbin: Spring-Verlag 237-263.

[20] Chunjiang Liu Study on the biomass and nutrient cycling of the mixed plantation ofPinus tabulaeformis andQuercus variabilis in Xishan region, Beijing [J]. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 1987, 9(1): 1-10.

[21] Tianxiang Luo, Wennua Li, Shidong Zhao Productivity distribution on patterns and modeling ofPinus taulaeformis in China [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 1999, 10(3): 257-261.

[22] Tianxiang Luo Patterns of net primary productivity for Chinese major forest and its matnematical models [D], 1996 Beijing: Commission for Integrated Survey of Natural Resources Chinese Academy of Sciences 185-185.

[23] Qinyan Ma A study on the biomass of individual tree and stand ofPinus tabulaeformis in Inner Mongolia [J]. Journal of Inner Mongolia Forestry College, 1987, 2: 13-22.

[24] Qinyan Ma A study on the biomass of Chinese pine forests [J]. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 1989, 11(4): 1-10.

[25] Qinyan Ma A study on biomass and primary productivity of Chinese Pine (Pinus tabulaeformis carr) [D], 1988 Beijing: Department of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University

[26] McGuire A.D., Joyce L.A., Kicklighter D.W. et al. Productivity response of climax temperate forests to elevated temperature and carbon dioxide: a North American comparison between to global models Climatic Change, 1993, 24(3): 287-310.

[27] Means J.E., Acker S.A., Harding D.J. et al. Use of large-footprint scanning lidar to estimate forest stand characteristics in the Western cascades of Oregon [J]. Remote Sensing and Environment, 1999, 67(3): 298-308.

[28] Melillo J.M., McGurie A.D., Kicklighter D.W. et al. Global climate change and terrestrial net primary production [J]. Nature, 1993, 363: 234-240.

[29] Murillo J.C.R. Temporal variations in the carbon budget of forest ecosystems in Spain [J]. Ecological Applications, 1997, 7(2): 461-469.

[30] Peng C.H., Apps M.J. Contribution of China to the global carbon cycle since Last Glacial maximum: reconstruction from palaoevegetation maps and an empirical biosphere model [J]. Tellus, 1997, 49B(3): 393-408.

[31] Running S.W., Gower S.T. Forest—BGC, a general model of forest ecosystem processes for regional applications, Dynamic allocation and nitrogen budget [J]. Tree Physical, 1991, 9(2): 147-160.

[32] Schmiel D.S., House J.I., Hibbard K.A. et al. Recent patterns and mechanisms of carbon exchange by terrestrial ecosystems [J]. Nature, 2001, 414: 169-172.

[33] Schroeder P., Brown S., Birdsey J.M.R. et al. Biomass estimation for temperate broadleaf forests of the US using inventory data [J]. Forest Science, 1997, 43(2): 424-434.

[34] Turner D.P., Koepper G.J., Harmon M.E. et al. A carbon budget for forests of the conterminous United States [J]. Ecological Applications, 1995, 5(2): 421-436.

[35] Uchijima Z., Seino H. Agroclimatic evaluation of net primary productivity of natural vegetation. (1) Chikugo model for evaluating net primary productivity [J]. J. Agr. Meteor., 1985, 40(3): 343-352.

[36] Uchijima I., Seino H. Probable effect of CO2-induced climatic change on agrocliamtic resources and net primary productivity in Japan [J]. Bull. Natl. Inst. Agro. Environ. Sci., 1988, 4(1): 67-88.

[37] Huimin Wang, Guangsheng Zhou, Lin Wei et al. NPP pattern of Chinese pine forest and its response to climate change [J]. Chinese Bulletin of Botany, 1995, 12(sup.): 102-108.

[38] Whittaker R.H., Likens G.E. Methods of assessing terrestrial productivity [M], 1975 Harbin, USA: Northeast Forestry University and Ecological Society of China 305-328.

[39] Yu Xiao Correlation analysis between productivity of ChinesePinus tabulaeformis plantations and ecological factors in Shaanxi Province [J]. Acta Botanica Sinica, 1987, 29(5): 549-555.

[40] Huacheng Xu Pinus tabulaeformis [M], 1993 Beijing: Science Press 41-53.

[41] Bolin Zhang Preliminary report on productivity ofPinus tabulaeformis plantation in Weibei Region [J]. Journal of Northwest Forestry College, 1992, 7(1): 64-67.

[42] Xinshi Zhang The potential evapotranspiration (PE) index for vegetation and vegetation-climatic classification (└)—An introduction of main methods and PEP program [J]. Acta Phytoecol Geobot Sin, 1993, 17(2): 97-109. (in Chinese)

[43] Shidong Zhao, Tianxiang Luo Approach to the regional scale bio-productivity of terrestrial ecosystem [J]. Resources Science, 1998, 20(1): 24-34.

[44] Guangsheng Zhou, Yuhui Wang, Yanling Jiang et al. Estimating biomass and net primary production from forest inventory data: a case study of China'sLarix forest [J]. Forest Ecol. Manag., 2002, 169(2): 149-157.

[45] Guangsheng Zhou, Xinshi Zhang A natural vegetation NPP model [J]. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 1995, 19(3): 193-200.

[46] Guangsheng Zhou, Xinshi Zhang Study on Chinese climate-vegetation relationship [J]. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 1996, 20(2): 113-119.