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Carbon, Water, and Energy Exchanges of a Hybrid Poplar Plantation During the First Five Years Following Planting

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Abstract

Eddy covariance was used to measure above-canopy exchanges of CO2 and water vapor at an operational plantation of hybrid poplar (variety “Walker”) established on marginal agricultural land in east central Alberta, Canada. Winter ecosystem respiration (R e) rates were inferred from seasonal changes in the normalized respiration rate at 10°C (R 10) for the growing season and observations of soil CO2 concentration measured with solid-state probes. Over five consecutive growing seasons following planting, gross ecosystem production (GEP) increased each year, ranging from 21 g C m−2 y−1 in year 1 to 469 g C m−2 y−1 in year 5. During this period, the annual carbon balance shifted from a net source of greater than 330 g C m−2 in year 1 to approximately C-neutral in year 5. Total carbon (C) release over 5 years likely exceeded 630 g C m−2. Intra- and interannual variations in temperature and soil water availability greatly affected annual C balance each year. GEP and R e were particularly sensitive to temperature during spring and to soil water availability in summer: year 5 was notable because a cold spring and accumulating drought caused growth and carbon uptake to fall well below their potential. Annual evapotranspiration (ET) increased slightly with leaf area, from 281 mm in year 1 to 323 mm in year 4, but in year 5 it declined, while exceeding total precipitation (P). This trend of increasing annual ET/P suggests that annual GEP could become increasingly water-limited in years with below normal precipitation, as the plantation achieves maximum leaf area. Measured canopy albedos did not change appreciably over three winters, suggesting that estimates of increased radiative forcing resulting from afforestation in high latitudes could be exaggerated in regions where fast-growing deciduous plantations are managed on short (~20-year) rotations.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank management and staff of Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. for their continued interest and financial support. Derek Sidders, Jag Bhatti, Carmela Arevalo and Marty Siltanen of Natural Resources Canada, Northern Forestry Centre in Edmonton, have provided much input throughout the course of the study. Scott Chang and Robert Grant of the University of Alberta, and Rachhpal (Paul) Jassal and Andy Black of UBC have all contributed help and ideas. Don Huber, owner of the Huber Farm near Ashmont, Alberta, has allowed us unhindered access to the site. We greatly appreciate the valuable comments and suggestions from Altaf Arain of McMaster University who reviewed an early version of the manuscript, as well as the positive and helpful suggestions from two anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural Resources Canada, Northern Forestry Centre, 5320-122 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6H 3S5, Canada

    Tiebo Cai & David T. Price

  2. Micrometeorology Consultant, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Alberto L. Orchansky

  3. Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc, Boyle, Alberta, T0A 0M0, Canada

    Barb R. Thomas

  4. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada

    Barb R. Thomas

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  1. Tiebo Cai
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  2. David T. Price
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Correspondence to David T. Price.

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Author Contributions

TC performed the data analysis presented in this article and drafted the methodology and results. DTP conceived the study, located the site and contributed significantly to writing the article. ALO turned the concept into reality, set up and maintained the eddy covariance system and other instrumentation, and organized data sets. BRT assisted greatly with site selection, provided expertise on hybrid poplar plantation establishment, coordinated management operations at the study site and contributed to the writing.

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Cai, T., Price, D.T., Orchansky, A.L. et al. Carbon, Water, and Energy Exchanges of a Hybrid Poplar Plantation During the First Five Years Following Planting. Ecosystems 14, 658–671 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-011-9436-8

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