Effects of fertilization and dry-season irrigation on the timber production and carbon storage in subtropical Eucalyptus plantations

• Published in: Industrial crops and products 2023-02, Vol.192, p.116143, Article 116143
• Main Authors: Yang, Ling, Lin, Yubiao, Kong, Jiejun, Yu, Yaohong, He, Qian, Su, Yan, Li, Jiyue, Qiu, Quan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Timber production Carbon storage Dry-season irrigation Fertilization Eucalyptus plantations
• ISSN: 0926-6690; 1872-633X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.116143

Eucalyptus is widely planted in Southern China with its rapid growth and high productivity. Nevertheless, seasonal droughts and low soil fertility exist in South China and a deeper understanding of the impacts of coupled fertilization and irrigation management on forest productivity and carbon (C) storage is still required. We investigated the effects of fertilization and dry-season irrigation on timber production and component C stocks in the ecosystem of Eucalyptus plantations. The results showed that fertilization coupled with dry-season irrigation mitigated nutrient limitation and dry-season drought stress, significantly increasing the stand volume of Eucalyptus plantations, with an increase of 161.3 % compared to the control treatment. Combined management of fertilization and dry-season irrigation significantly increased C stocks in the plantation ecosystem, by 37.3 % compared to the control treatment. Moreover, we found that the increased C storage was mainly from the vegetation layer, while the soil layer carbon storage decreased, thus changing the distribution of C stocks in the ecosystem. These results indicate that fertilized and dry-season irrigated Eucalyptus plantations have great timber production benefits beyond C sequestration, which also provide an important practical exploration of forest management in seasonally dry areas. •Fertilization combined with dry-season irrigation can increase stand volume.•Fertilization couple with dry-season irrigation can enhance ecosystem carbon stocks.•These two approaches can change the pattern of forest carbon stock allocation.•It provides an essential practical exploration of seasonal dryland forest management.