© 1991 Heron Publishing—Victoria, Canada
A simple method for estimating gross carbon budgets for vegetation in forest ecosystems
Michael G. Ryan
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, 240 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526-2098,
USA /
Summary
Gross carbon budgets for vegetation in forest ecosystems are difficult to construct because of problems in scaling flux measurements
made on small samples over short periods of time and in determining belowground carbon allocation. Recently, empirical relationships
have been developed to estimate total belowground carbon allocation from litterfall, and maintenance respiration from tissue
nitrogen content. I outline a method for estimating gross carbon budgets using these empirical relationships together with
data readily available from ecosystem studies (aboveground wood and canopy production, aboveground wood and canopy biomass,
litterfall, and tissue nitrogen contents). Estimates generated with this method are compared with annual carbon fixation estimates
from the Forest-BGC model for a lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) and a Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis Dougl.) chronosequence.
