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Sources of errors and uncertainties in the assessment of forest soil carbon stocks at different scales—review and recommendations

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Abstract

Spatially explicit knowledge of recent and past soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in forests will improve our understanding of the effect of human- and non-human-induced changes on forest C fluxes. For SOC accounting, a minimum detectable difference must be defined in order to adequately determine temporal changes and spatial differences in SOC. This requires sufficiently detailed data to predict SOC stocks at appropriate scales within the required accuracy so that only significant changes are accounted for. When designing sampling campaigns, taking into account factors influencing SOC spatial and temporal distribution (such as soil type, topography, climate and vegetation) are needed to optimise sampling depths and numbers of samples, thereby ensuring that samples accurately reflect the distribution of SOC at a site. Furthermore, the appropriate scales related to the research question need to be defined: profile, plot, forests, catchment, national or wider. Scaling up SOC stocks from point sample to landscape unit is challenging, and thus requires reliable baseline data. Knowledge of the associated uncertainties related to SOC measures at each particular scale and how to reduce them is crucial for assessing SOC stocks with the highest possible accuracy at each scale. This review identifies where potential sources of errors and uncertainties related to forest SOC stock estimation occur at five different scales—sample, profile, plot, landscape/regional and European. Recommendations are also provided on how to reduce forest SOC uncertainties and increase efficiency of SOC assessment at each scale.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the EU COST Action FP0803 “Belowground carbon turnover in European forests” for providing the platform and financial help for meetings where this review was initiated and further discussed and progressed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Ecosystems, Society and Biosecurity, Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, GU10 4LH, UK

    E. I. Vanguelova

  2. DISAFA, Chimica Agraria e Pedologia, University of Torino, Via P. Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, TO, Italy

    E. Bonifacio & L. Celi

  3. Environment & Climate Unit, Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Gaverstraat 4, 9500, Geraardsbergen, Belgium

    B. De Vos

  4. Department of Soil Quality, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    M. R. Hoosbeek

  5. Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences, Institute of Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Live Sciences (BOKU), Peter Jordan-Strasse 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria

    T. W. Berger

  6. Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, DK-1958, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    L. Vesterdal

  7. Department of Ecology, Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepu 1, Girionys, LT-53101 Kaunas distr, Lithuania

    K. Armolaitis

  8. National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Dracea”, Brasov, Romania

    L. Dinca

  9. Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Pb 115, NO-1431, Ås, Norway

    O. J. Kjønaas

  10. National Forest Centre - Forest Research Institute, T.G. Masaryka 22, 962 92, Zvolen, Slovakia

    P. Pavlenda

  11. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    J. Pumpanen

  12. Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    Ü. Püttsepp

  13. School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    B. Reidy

  14. Forest Ecology Department, Slovenian Foresty Institute, Vecna pot 2, SI 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    P. Simončič

  15. UCD Forestry, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    B. Tobin

  16. Forest Research Institute – BAS 132, “Kl. Ohridski” Blvd., 1756, Sofia, Bulgaria

    M. Zhiyanski

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  1. E. I. Vanguelova
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  2. E. Bonifacio
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Correspondence to E. I. Vanguelova.

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Vanguelova, E.I., Bonifacio, E., De Vos, B. et al. Sources of errors and uncertainties in the assessment of forest soil carbon stocks at different scales—review and recommendations. Environ Monit Assess 188, 630 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5608-5

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