Bio-productivity and carbon sequestration of pine forests at transition from middle aged to mature in middle taiga
We estimated carbon storage dynamics and net production of carbon of organic matter in pine forest phytocoenoses at the stage of transition form middle-aged to mature in middle taiga based on 30 years of studies. we found increase in carbon storages in the phytocoenoses of this exact development phase. Phytomass of mature bilberry pine forest accumulates 69.3 t C ha<sup>-1</sup>, bilberry and sphagnum pine forest 56.7 t C ha<sup>-1</sup> which is 1.2-1.3 times higher compared to middle-aged communities. We show that net productivity of carbon decreased during ripening of pine forest. production of carbon of organic matter under transition from middle-aged to mature forest decreased from 3.6 to 2.5 t ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> in bilberry pine forest, and from 2.8 to 2.3 t ha<sup>-1</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> in bilberry and sphuagnum pine forest. We note significant contribution of ground cover vegetation to net production of organic matter in pine forests growing on half boggy soils.