Potential changes in Czech forest soil carbon stocks under different climate change scenarios

Abstract

Detailed inventory data (n = 3,930; approximately one representative sampling point per 650 ha) on soil organic carbon (SOC) to a depth of 30 cm has been used to characterize carbon content in forest soils in the Czech Republic across all altitudinal vegetation zones and forest ecological series. This data set was used to predict the most probable changes in soil carbon content in the altitudinal vegetation zones due to global warming. The mean value of the SOC content in forest soils of the Czech Republic was determined to be 62.6 ± 17.2 t·ha-1. Under different warming scenarios the major SOC loss was observed at an altitude of 700-900 m a.s.l. Using a pessimistic emission scenario in the climatic model (i.e. predicted temperature change by +4.24°C), losses of C from forest soils in the Czech Republic, or potentially in central Europe, could be as high as 13% of the current carbon stock in forest soils.