Changes in carbon concentration of tree components for maritime pine plantations in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the carbon concentration of various components of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) plantations in Turkey, as well as the weighted carbon concentration of above-ground and total tree biomass, and to examine site-related differences in weighted carbon concentration. Samples were collected from 69 sampling plots at a mature stage with different site characteristics and stand growth, and site characteristics of the sample plots were determined. Then, an individual tree representing the top height in each sampling plot was cut, and needle, branch, wood, bark, and root samples were collected from the these trees. Carbon analysis on plant samples collected from the sampling plots was carried out in the laboratory. The data were evaluated by using variance analysis (ANOVA), Duncan’s test, and correlation analyses. Statistically significant (at P<0.001) differences were found between carbon concentrations of tree components. The lowest carbon concentration was in roots (48.8%), while the highest carbon concentration was in barks (53.9%). The weighted carbon concentration of maritime pine plantations was found to be 51.9% for the above-ground biomass while it was 51.4% for the total tree biomass. Statistically significant (at P<0.05) differences by weighted carbon concentrations of total tree biomass were also found between the Marmara and the Black Sea Regions