Determination of carbon concentration of tree components for Scotch pine forests in Turkmen Mountain (Eskisehir, Kutahya) Region

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between carbon concentration of different tree components and some ecological factors for Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L. subsp. hamata (Steven) Fomin.) In Turkmen Mountain Region. Data were collected from 58 ecologically different sample plots and were evaluated using ANOVA and correlation analysis. Carbon concentration varied significantly within five tree components (p<0.001), with the values ranging from 50.94% for root to 54.75% for bark. We also calculated the weighted carbon concentration as 5237% for Scotch pine forests. Some significant relationships were found between the carbon concentration of tree components and some ecological factors and stand parameters. Site index and elevation negatively correlated with tree component carbon concentration. However, elevation strongly correlated with 1- and 2-year-old needle carbon concentration (p<0.01). We also found that slope position positively correlated with 2- and 3-year-old needles but negatively correlated with bark in terms of carbon concentration. The carbon concentrations that we calculated in this study can be used for calculating the carbon content of either whole tree or any tree component in Scotch pine forests.