Eucalyptus globoidea productivity in New Zealand

Dean Meason, Tobias Herrman, Christine Todoroki

Outline• Ecosystem black box and drivers of productivity• Process-based modelling & its importance for alternative

species• MPI project – Predicting productivity and carbon

sequestration potential of eucalypt species• Summary

Potential rooting depth – Landcare/Scion

Multiple site factors impact productivity

Empirical modelling: “black box” approach

Forest ecosystem BLACK BOX

Ecosystem Input:

Ecosystem Output:

Different managementtechniques

Desired outcome ofthe stand

Climate Change in New Zealand•Temperature rises

- 1.6 to 2.0oC in 2080•Rainfall changes

- +-10 to15% in 2080•High variability and uncertainty

Stand Productivity

Photosynthesis TopographyTranspiration

Soil depthSoil organic

matter

Carbon allocation

Competition

Temperature RainfallSoil texture Soil fertility

Drivers of Productivity

Empirical-based Forest Modelling

• Need thousands of plots over a long time period

• Ecosystem black box• Static, not dynamic• Radiata pine not as site sensitive

State v ar iab les

Subs id iary v ar iab les

Climate & s ite Inputs

Los s es

Mater ia l f low s

Inf luenc es

Carbon

W ater

Trees

Ke y to colours & sha pe s

Subs id iary v ar iab les

+

H20 R ain

g C

Soil H20

ET

+

+

+

_

_

+

wS x

Deadtrees

Stocking+

+

_

wS +w S >w S x

_ _

N+

+

__

S tres s

VPD

T

FR

f

+

_

+

_

+

++

+

+

D BH

F /SR

LAILUE

SLA

+

+

_

NPP

Stem

Foliage

Roots

GPP

CO2

C ,N

Litter

+

From Sands 2000, CSIRO

Process-based Forest Modelling

3-PG

MPI project

• Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change program (SLMACC)

• Quantify productivity and carbon sequestration potential of- Eucalyptus globoidea- Eucalyptus regnans

• Collaboration with NZDFI• Building on previous eucalypt productivity spatial

modelling

Eucalyptus fastigata plot network

commons.wikipedia.com

Stem volume per hectare at

age 30

Initial stocking 1250 sph

No silviculture

Eucalyptus fastigata

Stem volume per hectare at

age 30

Initial stocking 1250 sph

No silviculture

Eucalyptus fastigata

Stem volume per hectare at

age 30

Initial stocking 1250 sph

No silviculture

Eucalyptus fastigata

1077 973 958 1059

980 1031 954 952

1037 1030 1020 1012

972 962 1017 1014

971 967 1060 1045

Stem volume per hectare at

age 30

Initial stocking 1250 sph

No silviculture

Eucalyptus fastigata

Eucalypt species distribution

commons.wikipedia.com

E. fastigata E. globoidea E. regnans

Height differs by species

Stocking effects on stem quadratic mean diameter

Similar spatial relationships between species

t

E. globoidea wood density is high

Site impacts E. globoidea productivity

Top Height

Regime (past and futurestocking/pruning)

300 IndexGrowth Model

Yield Table(annual stocking, stem volume & stem density)

Density Model

C-Change

Annual Carbon Pools

Basal Area Outerwood DensityAge Stocking

Modelling of Carbon pools: Forest Carbon Predictor

Inputs:

Processing:

Outputs:

Summary

• Process-based models ideal for species with limited data- Dynamic not static

• Strong correlations between E. fastigata and E. globoidea• E. globoidea not as site sensitive as first feared• E. globoidea has higher wood density than the “industrial”

eucalypts- No regional differences

Next steps

• Finish 3-PG parameterisation for E. globoidea and E. regnans – Nov 2015

• Create spatial productivity map identifying highly suitable areas – Jan 2016

• Provide a realistic productivity range of E. globoidea’s potential – Jan 2016

• Create carbon sequestration models for E. globoidea and E. regnans – Dec 2015

• Share data and results with NZDFI