Organic Carbon Distribution of the Pinus densiflora Forest on Songgye Valley at Mt. Worak National Park

The organic carbon (OC) distribution of Pinus densiflora forest in Songgye valley at Mt. WorakNational Park were studied as a part of the National Long-Term Ecological Research in Korea. In order toinvestigate the OC distribution, OC in plant biomass, litterfall, litter layer on forest floor, and soil were estimated.The density of P. densiflora forest was 1,300 trees/ha, average DBH was 15.2±6.17 cm and average tree heightwas 10.7±2.56 m. The shrub layer was dominated by shrubby Quercus variabilis, Fraxinus sieboldiana andIndigofera kirilowii with low frequency, and herb layer was dominated by Pteridium aquilinum and Miscanthussinensis. Total amount of OC stored in this pine forest was 142.78 ton C/ha. Organic carbon stored in soil andplant biomass accounted for 59.2% and 37.8%, respectively. Amount of OC distributed in trees, shrubs, herbsand litter layer in this pine forest was 51.79, 2.03, 0.12 and 4.29 ton C/ha, respectively. Amount of OC returnedto forest floor via litterfall was 1.50 ton C ha-1 yr-1. Soil organic carbon (SOC) decreased along the soil depth.Total amount of SOC within 50 cm soil depth was 84.55 ton C ha-1 50 cm-depth-1.