Evolution des Stocks de Carbone Organique dans le Sol apres Coupe dans la Sapiniere a Bouleau Jaune de l'est du Quebec

As part of the atmospheric carbon (C) reduction strategy to use forest soils to sequester C, the evolution of soil reserves of organic C following clearcut harvesting in balsam fir-yellow birch stands of eastern Quebec, Canada, was studied. Major organic C losses were observed in the forest floor of harvested plots compared with mature stands. The FH horizon, particularly, showed a 44% loss in dry weight and 13.5% loss of organic C between 7 and 22 year old harvested plots. More than half the organic C content was lost during that period compared with losses in mature forest. The forest floor of fir-birch stands develops into an organic C source for at least 22 yr after harvesting. (in French)