Allometry and biomass of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) in central Korea

Aboveground tree biomass of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) was determined for a natural forest of Korean pine and mixed deciduous trees and seven age classes of plantation forests in central Korea. Regression analyses of the dry weights of stem wood, stem bark, branches, and needles versus diameter at breast height were used to calculate regression equations of the form of log Y=a+blog X. Biomass of Korean pine in the mixed forest was 118 Mg ha−1, and biomass in the plantations was linearly related to stand age, ranging from 52.3 Mg ha−1 in 11 to 20-year-old stands to 317.9 Mg ha−1 in 71 to 80-year-old stands. The proportions of stem wood and stem bark in the total aboveground biomass decreased with stand age while those of branch and needle increased. Specific leaf area of Korean pine ranging from 35.2 to 52.1 cm2 g−1 was significantly different among crown positions and needle ages; in general, lower crown position and current needles had the greatest surface area per unit dry weight.