Biomass Production in Forest Ecosystems
Summary
Biomass production in forest ecosystems underpins both global carbon dynamics and sustainable resource management. Forests convert solar energy into plant tissues through photosynthesis, driving gross primary productivity (GPP). A portion of this fixed carbon supports respiration and maintenance, while the surplus becomes net primary productivity (NPP), which accumulates as above- and belowground biomass. Variations in biomass production arise from species traits, stand age and structure, soil fertility, climatic conditions and management practices. Allometric relationships enable estimation of biomass pools from easy-to-measure tree dimensions, facilitating assessments at tree, stand and landscape scales. Managed forests may exhibit altered successional trajectories, with early-successional species often showing rapid biomass accrual, whereas old-growth stands can maintain substantial carbon sinks over centuries. Adaptive silviculture, including fertilisation, thinning and choice of species, can enhance biomass yields while balancing biodiversity, soil health and long-term carbon storage. Understanding the interplay between ecological drivers and management interventions is essential for optimising forest biomass as a renewable resource and climate mitigation tool.
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Biomass Production in Forest Ecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in biomass production in forest ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gross primary productivity (GPP): Total carbon fixed by vegetation through photosynthesis per unit area and time.
Net primary productivity (NPP): Carbon remaining after plant respiration, available for growth and accumulation in biomass.
Net ecosystem production (NEP): Difference between NPP and heterotrophic respiration, indicating net carbon sequestration by the ecosystem.
Allometry: The study of size relationships used to estimate tree or stand biomass from measurements such as diameter at breast height and height.
Aboveground biomass (AGB): Total mass of living plant material above the soil, often expressed in dry weight per unit area.
References
- Landscape‐variability of the carbon balance across managed boreal forests. Global Change Biology (2022).
- Long-Term Effect of Wood Ash and Wastewater Sludge Fertilization on Tree Growth in Short-Rotation Forest Plantations on Abandoned Agricultural Land: A Case Study. Sustainability (2023).
- Biomass production and fuel characteristics from long rotation poplar plantations. Biomass and Bioenergy (2023).
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