Home Forest Ecosystems Article
PDF (4.4 MB)
Cite
EndNote(RIS) BibTeX
Collect
Research Article | Open Access

Short lifespan and ‘prime period’ of carbon sequestration call for multi-ages in dryland tree plantations

Chongyang Xua, Xiuchen Wub, Yuhong Tianb, Liang Shic, Yang Qid, Jingjing Zhanga, Hongyan Liua()
College of Urban and Environmental Sciences and MOE Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
College of Resources Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
College of JunCao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
Show Author Information

Abstract

Enhancing forest cover is important for effective climate change mitigation. Studies suggest that drylands are promising areas for expanding forests, but conflicts arise with increased forest area and water consumption. Recent tree mortality in drylands raises concerns about carbon sequestration potential in tree plantations. Using Chinese dryland tree plantations as an example, we compared their growth with natural forests. Our results suggested plantation trees grew 1.6–2.1 times faster in juvenile phases, significantly shortening time to maturity (13.5 vs. 30 years) compared to natural forests, potentially stemming from simple plantation age structures. Different from natural forests, 74% of trees in plantations faced growth decline, indicating a short “prime period” for carbon sequestration and even a short lifespan. Additionally, a negative relationship between evapotranspiration and tree growth was observed in tree plantations since maturity, leading to high sensitivities of trees to vapor pressure deficit and soil water. However, this was not observed in natural forests. To address this, we suggest afforestation in drylands should consider complex age structures, ensuring a longer prime period for carbon sequestration and life expectancy in tree plantations.

Keywords

Tree growthDrylandsTree plantationsCarbon sequestrationLifespan

References

 

Abatzoglou, J.T., Dobrowski, S.Z., Parks, S.A., Hegewisch, K.C., 2018. TerraClimate, a high-resolution global dataset of monthly climate and climatic water balance from 1958–2015. Sci. Data 5 (1), 170191. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2017.191.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Allen, C.D., Macalady, A.K., Chenchouni, H., Bachelet, D., McDowell, N., Vennetier, M., Kitzberger, T., Rigling, A., Breshears, D.D., Hogg, E.T., 2010. A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests. For. Ecol. Manag. 259 (4), 660–684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.09.001.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Bastin, J.-F., Berrahmouni, N., Grainger, A., Maniatis, D., Mollicone, D., Moore, R., Patriarca, C., Picard, N., Sparrow, B., Abraham, E.M., Aloui, K., Atesoglu, A., Attore, F., Bassüllü, Ç., Bey, A., Garzuglia, M., García-Montero, L.G., Groot, N., Guerin, G., Laestadius, L., Lowe, A.J., Mamane, B., Marchi, G., Patterson, P., Rezende, M., Ricci, S., Salcedo, I., Diaz, A.S.-P., Stolle, F., Surappaeva, V., Castro, R., 2017. The extent of forest in dryland biomes. Science 356 (6338), 635–638. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam6527.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Bastin, J.-F., Finegold, Y., Garcia, C., Mollicone, D., Rezende, M., Routh, D., Zohner, C.M., Crowther, T.W., 2019. The global tree restoration potential. Science 365 (6448), 76. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax0848.

Crossref Google Scholar
 
Besseau, P., Graham, S., Christophersen, T., 2018. Restoring forests and landscapes: the key to a sustainable future. Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration, Vienna, Austria. ISBN: 978-3-902762-97-9.
 

Brienen, R.J.W., Caldwell, L., Duchesne, L., Voelker, S., Barichivich, J., Baliva, M., Ceccantini, G., Di Filippo, A., Helama, S., Locosselli, G.M., Lopez, L., Piovesan, G., Schöngart, J., Villalba, R., Gloor, E., 2020. Forest carbon sink neutralized by pervasive growth-lifespan trade-offs. Nat. Comm. 11 (1), 4241. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17966-z.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Büntgen, U., Krusic, P.J., Piermattei, A., Coomes, D.A., Esper, J., Myglan, V.S., Kirdyanov, A.V., Camarero, J.J., Crivellaro, A., Körner, C., 2019. Limited capacity of tree growth to mitigate the global greenhouse effect under predicted warming. Nat. Comm. 10 (1), 2171. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10174-4.

Crossref Google Scholar
 
Dave, R., Saint-Laurent, C., Murray, L., Antunes Daldegan, G., Brouwer, R., de Mattos Scaramuzza, C.A., Raes, L., Simonit, S., Catapan, M., García Contreras, G., Ndoli, A., Karangwa, C., Perera, N., Hingorani, S., Pearson, T., 2019. Second Bonn challenge progress report. In: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
 

Fang, J., Chen, A., Peng, C., Zhao, S., Ci, L., 2001. Changes in forest biomass carbon storage in China between 1949 and 1998. Science 292 (5525), 2320–2322. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1058629.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Farley, K.A., Jobbágy, E.G., Jackson, R.B., 2005. Effects of afforestation on water yield: a global synthesis with implications for policy. Glob. Change Biol. 11 (10), 1565–1576. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2005.01011.x.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Feng, X., Fu, B., Piao, S., Wang, S., Ciais, P., Zeng, Z., Lü, Y., Zeng, Y., Li, Y., Jiang, X., Wu, B., 2016. Revegetation in China's Loess Plateau is approaching sustainable water resource limits. Nat. Clim. Change 6 (11), 1019–1022. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3092.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Feng, S., Liu, H., Peng, S., Dai, J., Xu, C., Luo, C., Shi, L., Luo, M., Niu, Y., Liang, B., Liu, F., 2022. Will drought exacerbate the decline in the sustainability of plantation forests relative to natural forests? Land Degrad. Develop. 34 (4), 1067–1079. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4516.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Goulden, M.L., Mcmillan, A.M.S., Winston, G.C., Rocha, A.V., Manies, K.L., Harden, J.W., Bond-Lamberty, B.P., 2011. Patterns of NPP, GPP, respiration, and NEP during boreal forest succession. Glob. Change Biol. 17 (2), 855–871. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02274.x.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Gower, S.T., McMurtrie, R.E., Murty, D., 1996. Aboveground net primary production decline with stand age: potential causes. Trend. Ecol. Evol. 11 (9), 378–382. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-5347(96)10042-2.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Griscom, B.W., Adams, J., Ellis, P.W., Houghton, R.A., Lomax, G., Miteva, D.A., Schlesinger, W.H., Shoch, D., Siikamäki, J.V., Smith, P., Woodbury, P., Zganjar, C., Blackman, A., Campari, J., Conant, R.T., Delgado, C., Elias, P., Gopalakrishna, T., Hamsik, M.R., Herrero, M., Kiesecker, J., Landis, E., Laestadius, L., Leavitt, S.M., Minnemeyer, S., Polasky, S., Potapov, P., Putz, F.E., Sanderman, J., Silvius, M., Wollenberg, E., Fargione, J., 2017. Natural climate solutions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 114 (44), 11645–11650. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1710465114.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Guo, Q., Ren, H., 2014. Productivity as related to diversity and age in planted versus natural forests. Global Ecol. Biogeogr. 23 (12), 1461–1471. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12238.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Heinrich, V.H.A., Dalagnol, R., Cassol, H.L.G., Rosan, T.M., de Almeida, C.T., Silva Junior, C.H.L., Campanharo, W.A., House, J.I., Sitch, S., Hales, T.C., Adami, M., Anderson, L.O., Aragão, L.E.O.C., 2021. Large carbon sink potential of secondary forests in the Brazilian Amazon to mitigate climate change. Nat. Comm. 12 (1), 1785. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22050-1.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Holmes, R.L., 1983. Computer-assisted quality control in tree-ring dating and measurement. Tree-Ring Bull. 43, 69–78.

Google Scholar
 

Hua, F., Bruijnzeel, L.A., Meli, P., Martin, P.A., Zhang, J., Nakagawa, S., Miao, X., Wang, W., McEvoy, C., Peña-Arancibia, J.L., Brancalion, P.H.S., Smith, P., Edwards, D.P., Balmford, A., 2022. The biodiversity and ecosystem service contributions and trade-offs of forest restoration approaches. Science 376 (6595), 839–844. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abl4649.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Huang, J., Yu, H., Guan, X., Wang, G., Guo, R., 2016. Accelerated dryland expansion under climate change. Nat. Clim. Change 6 (2), 166–171. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2837.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Jackson, R.B., Jobbágy, E.G., Avissar, R., Roy, S.B., Barrett, D.J., Cook, C.W., Farley, K.A., le Maitre, D.C., McCarl, B.A., Murray, B.C., 2005. Trading water for carbon with biological carbon sequestration. Science 310 (5756), 1944–1947. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1119282.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Ji, Y., Zhou, G., Li, Z., Wang, S., Zhou, H., Song, X., 2020. Triggers of widespread dieback and mortality of poplar (Populus spp.) plantations across northern China. J. Arid Environ. 174, 104076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.104076.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Jia, G., Chen, L., Yu, X., Liu, Z., 2022. Soil water stress overrides the benefit of water-use efficiency from rising CO2 and temperature in a cold semi-arid poplar plantation. Plant Cell Environ. 45 (4), 1172–1186. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14260.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Killick, R., Fearnhead, P., Eckley, I.A., 2012. Optimal detection of changepoints with a linear computational cost. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 107 (500), 1590–1598. https://doi.org/10.1080/01621459.2012.737745.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Kira, T., Shidei, T., 1967. Primary production and turnover of organic matter in different forest ecosystems of the western Pacific. Japan. J. Ecol. 17 (2), 70–87.

Google Scholar
 
Kutsch, W.L., Wirth, C., Kattge, J., Nöllert, S., Herbst, M., Kappen, L., 2009. Ecophysiological characteristics of mature trees and stands - consequences for oldgrowth forest productivity. In: Wirth, C., Gleixner, G., Heimann, M. (Eds.), OldGrowth Forests: Function, Fate and Value. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-92706-8_4.
Crossref
 

Laestadius, L., Maginnis, S., Minnemeyer, S., Potapoy, P., Saint-Laurent, C., Sizer, N., 2011. Mapping opportunities for forest landscape restoration. Unasylva 62 (238), 47–48.

Google Scholar
 

Latham, P., Tappeiner, J., 2002. Response of old-growth conifers to reduction in stand density in western Oregon forests. Tree Physiol. 22 (2–3), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/22.2-3.137.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Lian, X., Piao, S., Chen, A., Huntingford, C., Fu, B., Li, L.Z.X., Huang, J., Sheffield, J., Berg, A.M., Keenan, T.F., McVicar, T.R., Wada, Y., Wang, X., Wang, T., Yang, Y., Roderick, M.L., 2021. Multifaceted characteristics of dryland aridity changes in a warming world. Nat. Rev. Earth Environ. 2 (4), 232–250. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00144-0.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Liu, H., Williams, P.A., Allen, C.D., Guo, D., Wu, X., Anenkhonov, O.A., Liang, E., Sandanov, D.V., Yin, Y., Qi, Z.H., Badmaeva, N.K., 2013. Rapid warming accelerates tree growth decline in semi-arid forests of Inner Asia. Glob. Change Biol. 19 (8), 2500–2510. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12217.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Liu, H., Xu, C., Allen, C.D., Hartmann, H., Wei, X., Yakir, D., Wu, X., Yu, P., 2022. Nature-based framework for sustainable afforestation in global drylands under changing climate. Glob. Change Biol. 28 (7), 2202–2220. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16059.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Lu, W., Yu, X., Jia, G., 2020. Retrospective analysis of tree decline based on intrinsic water-use efficiency in semi-arid areas of North China. Atmosphere 11 (6), 577.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

McDowell, N., Pockman, W.T., Allen, C.D., Breshears, D.D., Cobb, N., Kolb, T., Plaut, J., Sperry, J., West, A., Williams, D.G., 2008. Mechanisms of plant survival and mortality during drought: why do some plants survive while others succumb to drought? New Phytol. 178 (4), 719–739. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02436.x.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Monserud, R.A., Sterba, H., 1996. A basal area increment model for individual trees growing in even-and uneven-aged forest stands in Austria. For. Ecol. Manag. 80, 57–80.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Navarro-Cerrillo, R.M., Rodriguez-Vallejo, C., Silveiro, E., Hortal, A., Palacios-Rodríguez, G., Duque-Lazo, J., Camarero, J.J., 2018. Cumulative drought stress leads to a loss of growth resilience and explains higher mortality in planted than in naturally regenerated Pinus pinaster stands. Forests 9 (6). https://doi.org/10.3390/f9060358.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Pei, Y., Huang, L., Shao, M.a., Zhang, Y., Pan, Y., 2023. Water use pattern and transpiration of Mongolian pine plantations in relation to stand age on northern Loess Plateau of China. Agr. For. Meteorol. 330, 109320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109320.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Peng, S., Ding, Y., Liu, W., Li, Z., 2019. 1 km monthly temperature and precipitation dataset for China from 1901 to 2017. Earth Syst. Sci. Data 11 (4), 1931–1946. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-1931-2019.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Qi, Z., Liu, H., Wu, X., Hao, Q., 2014. Climate-driven speedup of alpine treeline forest growth in the Tianshan Mountains, Northwestern China. Glob. Change Biol. 21 (2), 816–826. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.12703.

Crossref Google Scholar
 
Ryan, M.G., Binkley, D., Fownes, J.H., 1997. Age-related decline in forest productivity: pattern and process. In: Begon, M., Fitter, A.H. (Eds.), Advances in Ecological Research. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2504(08)60009-4.
Crossref
 

Sang, Y., Gao, P., Kang, X., Zhang, P., 2021. Effect of initial planting density on growth traits and wood properties of triploid Chinese white poplar (Populus tometosa) plantation. Forests 12 (12), 1676. https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121676.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Scott, A.J., Knott, M., 1974. A cluster analysis method for grouping means in the analysis of variance. Biometrics 30, 507–512.

Crossref Google Scholar
 
State Forestry and Grassland Administration, 2019. Chinese Forest Resources Report (2014-2018). China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing.
 

Xiao, Y., Xiao, Q., Sun, X., 2020. Ecological risks arising from the impact of large-scale afforestation on the regional water supply balance in Southwest China. Sci. Rep. 10 (1), 4150. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61108-w.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Xu, C., Liu, H., 2022. Hydraulic adaptability promotes tree life spans under climate dryness. Glob. Ecol. Biogeogr. 31 (1), 51–61, 10.1111/geb.13410.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Yu, G., Chen, Z., Piao, S., Peng, C., Ciais, P., Wang, Q., Li, X., Zhu, X., 2014. High carbon dioxide uptake by subtropical forest ecosystems in the East Asian monsoon region. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 111 (13), 4910–4915. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1317065111.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Yu, Z., Liu, S., Wang, J., Wei, X., Schuler, J., Sun, P., Harper, R., Zegre, N., 2019. Natural forests exhibit higher carbon sequestration and lower water consumption than planted forests in China. Glob. Change Biol. 25 (1), 68–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14484.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Zaehle, S., Sitch, S., Prentice, I.C., Liski, J., Cramer, W., Erhard, M., Hickler, T., Smith, B., 2006. The importance of age-related decline in forest NPP for modelling regional carbon balances. Ecol. Appl. 16 (4), 1555–1574. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[1555:TIOADI]2.0.CO;2.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Zeide, B., 2004. Optimal stand density: a solution. Can. J. For. Res. 34 (4), 846–854. https://doi.org/10.1139/x03-258.

Crossref Google Scholar
 

Zhong, Z., He, B., Chen, Y., Yuan, W., Huang, L., Guo, L., Zhang, Y., Xie, X., 2021. Higher sensitivity of planted forests' productivity than natural forests to droughts in China. J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosci. 126 (10), e2021JG006306. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JG006306.

Crossref Google Scholar
Forest Ecosystems
Volume 11 Issue 5,
October 2024
Article number: 100224
DOI: 10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100224
Cite this article:
Xu C, Wu X, Tian Y, et al. Short lifespan and ‘prime period’ of carbon sequestration call for multi-ages in dryland tree plantations. Forest Ecosystems, 2024, 11(5): 100224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100224
Metrics & Citations  
Article History
Copyright
Rights and Permissions
Return