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Below-ground biomass production and allometric relationships of eucalyptus coppice plantation in the central highlands of Madagascar

Razakamanarivo R.H., Razakavololona A., Razafindrakoto M.A., Vieilledent G., Albrecht A.. 2012. Biomass and Bioenergy, 45 (1) : p. 1-10.

DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.01.020

Short rotations of Eucalyptus plantations under coppice regime are extensively managed for wood production in Madagascar. Nevertheless, little is known about their biomass production and partitioning and their potential in terms of carbon sequestration. If above-ground biomass (AGB) can be estimated based on established allometric relations, below-ground (BGB) estimates are much less common. The aim of this work was to develop allometric equations to estimate biomass of these plantations, mainly for the root components. Data from 9 Eucalyptus robusta stands (47e87 years of plantation age, 3e5 years of coppice-shoot age) were collected and analyzed. Biomass of 3 sampled trees per stand was determined destructively. Dry weight ofAGBcomponents (leaves, branches andstems) were estimated as a function of basal area of all shoots per stump and dry weight for BGB components (mainly stump, coarse root (CR) and medium root (MR)) were estimated as a function of stump circumference. Biomass was then computed using allometric equations from stand inventory data. Stand biomass ranged from 102 to 130Mgha_1 withmore than 77%containedin the BGB components. The highest dry weight was allocated in the stump and in the CR (51% and 42% respectively) for BGB parts and in the stem (69%) for AGB part. Allometric relationships developed herein could be applied to other Eucalyptus plantations which present similar stand density and growing conditions; anyhow, more is needed to be investigated in understanding biomass production and partitioning over time for this kind of forest ecosystem.

Mots-clés : eucalyptus robusta; biomasse; croissance; mesure (activité); plantation forestière; système racinaire; rotation de coupe; régime du taillis; allométrie; madagascar

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