. Plant carbon (C) content is one of the most important plant traits and is critical to the assessment of global C cycle and ecological stoichiometry; however, the global variations in plant C content remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a global analysis of the plant C content by synthesizing data from 4318 species to document specific values and their variation of the C content across plant organs and life forms. Plant organ C contents ranged from 45.0 % in reproductive organs to 47.9 % in stems at global scales, which were significantly lower than the widely employed canonical value of 50 %. Plant C content in leaves (global mean of 46.9 %) was higher than that in roots (45.6 %). Across life forms, woody plants exhibited higher C content than herbaceous plants. Conifers, relative to broad-leaved woody species, had higher C content in roots, leaves, and stems. Plant C content tended to show a decrease with increasing latitude. The life form explained more variation of the C content than climate. Our findings suggest that specific C content values of different organs and life forms developed in our study should be incorporated into the estimations of regional and global vegetation biomass C stocks.

https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/15/693/2018/bg-15-693-2018.pdf

Variations and determinants of carbon content in plants: a global synthesis

Long-term intensive management effects on soil organic carbon pools and chemical composition in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forests in subtropical China

Comparing aboveground carbon sequestration between moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) and China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forests based on the allometric model

Carbon stocks in bamboo ecosystems worldwide: Estimates and uncertainties

Bamboo is widespread in the subtropics and tropics of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The total area of bamboo forests of various species is 22.0 × 106 ha, accounting for about 1.0% of the total global area of forest. Although the total forest areas in many countries have decreased drastically, bamboo forests have increased at a rate of 3% annually. China has the richest resources of bamboo in the world, with over 500 species in 39 genera. Carbon storage of vegetation, soils, and litter in bamboo forest system in China was 0.2511 × 1015, 0.8516 × 1015, and 0.0361 × 1015 g C, respectively, giving a total of 1.1388 × 1015 g C. This paper reviews carbon storage of vegetation, soils, and litter in bamboo forest system and compares the carbon fixation abilities of bamboo forest ecosystems with those of other tree species in subtropical China.

Review of Carbon Fixation in Bamboo Forests in China

The purpose of this study was to predict culm height development and to evaluate biomass accumulation and carbon storage in the initial growth stage of moso bamboos (Phyllostachys pubescens). A total of 30 bamboos were sampled based on their diameter at breast height (DBH). I predicted the culm heights daily based on the Richards growth function for these bamboo samples. After they reached their maximum heights, the biomass and carbon storage were determined. The results showed that the Richards function accurately simulated the height growth of bamboos and that the growth potential of culm heights increased with increasing DBH classes. In contrast, the time when the maximum growth rate occurred (t
 max
 ) appeared to not be influenced by DBH classes and was close to 20 days for all DBH classes. The culms arrived at their maximum heights in about 40 days regardless of DBH class. In addition, astonishing biomass accumulation and carbon storage was found during this period, and the aboveground biomass and carbon storage were predicted to be 3.44–17.33 and 1.58–8.04 kg culm−1 for moso bamboos, respectively. The allometric model was used to predict the relationships between DBH and aboveground biomass in this stage. I compared the biomass accumulation between this stage and the entire yield period (5 years) and found that the bamboos accumulated three-fourths of their biomass for the entire yield period in only 40 days. This revealed that biomass accumulation and carbon storage mainly occurs in the initial growth stage for individual moso bamboos.

/pdf/culm-height-development-biomass-accumulation-and-carbon-y9k7ibh7xc.pdf

Culm height development, biomass accumulation and carbon storage in an initial growth stage for a fast-growing moso bamboo ( Phyllostachy pubescens )

Estimating biomass production and carbon storage for a fast-growing makino bamboo (Phyllostachys makinoi) plant based on the diameter distribution model

The purpose of this study was to compare aboveground carbon storage capacities of different management strategies of an age series of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forests. The study site was located in the lower mountain area of central Taiwan. Stand structure and aboveground carbon storage were compared between moso bamboo stands that were subjected to two management strategies, intensive management (IM) and extensive management (EM). The Chi squared (χ
 2) test was utilized to examine the frequency distribution of culms among the age classes in each stand. All the IM stands passed the χ
 2 test, while only 41.7 % of the EM stands passed the test. This result suggests that the IM stands contain culms that are homogeneously distributed within an age series, while more than one-half of the EM stands did not follow this distribution. In addition, the relative root mean square errors (RRMSEs) of carbon storage in the age classes were calculated as an indicator of the variations of carbon storage in the age classes of each stand. A non-parametric test (Wilcoxon Scores) was utilized to compare the RRMSEs of the IM and EM stands; the results indicated that the RRMSEs were significantly different between these two management strategies. The IE stands displayed a smaller RRMSE than the EM stands, suggesting that the IE stands had stable carbon storage in the age series.

Comparing aboveground structure and aboveground carbon storage of an age series of moso bamboo forests subjected to different management strategies

The purpose of this study was to assess the carbon storage (CS) and mean carbon sequestration (MCS) for natural forests, man-made forests, and bamboo forests. The study site was located in central Taiwan. We predicted the CS and MCS for a natural forest and two man-made forests (Taiwan red cypress and Japanese cedar) and cited the CS and MCS for two bamboo forests (Makino and Moso) from the previous studies. The results showed that the CS and MCS, respectively, were 192.84 Mg ha−1 and 0.67 Mg ha−1 yr−1 for the natural forest; 68.85–96.81 Mg ha−1 and 3.47–4.45 Mg ha−1 yr−1 for the Taiwan red cypress; 101.14–164.80 Mg ha−1 and 2.66–5.23 Mg ha−1 yr−1 for the Japanese cedar; 49.8 Mg ha−1 and 9.89 Mg ha−1 yr−1 for the Makino bamboo; and 40.6 Mg ha−1 and 8.13 Mg ha−1 yr−1 for the Moso bamboo. The natural forest had the highest CS and the lowest MCS; conversely, bamboo forests had the lowest CS and the highest MCS. Moreover, the ratios of MSC to CS (RMCS/CS) were 0.0034, 0.0229–0.0562, and 0.2 for the natural fo...

Tian-Ming Yen

Papers

Comparing aboveground carbon sequestration between moso bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) and China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forests based on the allometric model

Culm height development, biomass accumulation and carbon storage in an initial growth stage for a fast-growing moso bamboo ( Phyllostachy pubescens )

Estimating biomass production and carbon storage for a fast-growing makino bamboo (Phyllostachys makinoi) plant based on the diameter distribution model

Comparing aboveground structure and aboveground carbon storage of an age series of moso bamboo forests subjected to different management strategies

Assessing carbon storage and carbon sequestration for natural forests, man-made forests, and bamboo forests in Taiwan