Do current biomass equations for Alnus glutinosa and Betula pubescens misestimate carbon stocks at peatland sites?

ABSTRACT: Accurate estimation of forest carbon stocks is essential for climate change mitigation, particularly in peatland ecosystems known for their high soil organic carbon content. However, biomass equations currently used in Germany, such as the ^"regular" biomass equation of the National Forest Inventory integrated in the TapeS R package, are primarily calibrated for mineral soil sites and may misestimate biomass in peatland forests. This study evaluates the applicability of existing biomass equations for Alnus glutinosa and Betula pubescens in forested peatlands across Germany by comparing estimates of the biomass equation of the National Forest Inventory with a set of alternative allometric functions, including peatland-specific equations. Using data from 65 forests at peatland and

SUBMITTER: Gercken H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12771796 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature