%0 Research article
%T Effects of rotation period on biomass production and atmospheric CO2 emissions from broadleaved stands growing on abandoned farmland
%A Eriksson, Erik
%A Johansson, Tord
%D 2006
%J Silva Fennica
%V 40
%N 4
%R doi:10.14214/sf.317
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/317
%X The growth rates and carbon stocks of unthinned young and mature stands  of broadleaved trees growing on abandoned farmland were determined to  assess whether their management regimes should involve short (15-year)  or long (45-year) rotations to maximize biomass production and  reductions of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Dry mass production and mean  annual increment (MAI) were calculated for 28 young stands and 65 mature  stands of European aspen (Populus tremula L.), common alder (Alnus  glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.), silver  birch (Betula pendula Roth) and downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.)  ranging in latitude from 57° to 63° N in Sweden. The potential for using  biomass from the stands to replace coal as a fuel and to store carbon  was then evaluated both in short and long rotation scenarios. The  results indicate that long rotations are beneficial if the objective is  to maximize the average carbon stock in biomass. If, on the other hand,  the intention is to optimize reductions in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, rotations should be short for aspen, silver birch and grey  alder stands. For downy birch and common alder, the MAI was higher for  the mature stands than the young stands, indicating that in these  species the mature stands are superior for both storing carbon and  replacing fossil fuel. Stands of broadleaved trees grown to produce  biofuel on abandoned farmland should be established on fertile soils to  promote high MAI. If the MAI is low, the rotation period should be long  to maximize the average carbon stock.