Oliveira Rodríguez, Nerea deRodríguez Soalleiro, RoquePérez Cruzado, CésarCañellas Rey de Viñas, IsabelSixto Blanco, HortensiaCeulemans, Reinhart J.2025-04-242025-04-242018Oliveira Rodríguez, N., Rodríguez Soalleiro, R., Pérez Cruzado, C., Cañellas Rey de Viñas, I., Sixto Blanco, H. & Ceulemans, R.J. (2018). Above- and below-ground carbon accumulation and biomass allocation in poplar short rotation plantations under Mediterranean conditions. Forest Ecology and Management, 428, 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.06.031https://hdl.handle.net/10347/41065This is the author’s version of the work. The definitive version was published in Forest ecology and management, vol. 428 (2018), available online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.06.031Beside the production of biomass, short rotation coppice (SRC) poplar plantations can also contribute to carbon sequestration in the soil through their below-ground biomass. The present study evaluated the allocation of above and below-ground biomass at the end of the first rotation of four SRC plantations under Mediterranean conditions. The genotypes evaluated are commonly used for biomass plantations, i.e. genotypes ‘AF2’ and ‘I-214’ (Populus × canadensis Mönch), and ‘Monviso’ (P. × generosa Henry × P. nigra L.). No significant differences among genotypes were found with regard to below-ground biomass yield. The root:shoot ratio decreased in line with the growth in shoot basal diameter, with values ranging from 0.15 to 0.26. The accumulation of carbon in the below-ground fraction of the biomass ranged from 0.86 to 0.91 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, whereas the above-ground carbon accumulation ranged from 3.89 to 6.48 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. A general as well as a genotype-specific allometric model allowed to accurately predict the below-ground biomass yield using shoot basal diameter as the predictor variable. Both models provide an important tool to quantify the carbon accumulated in the below-ground fraction of the biomass.engAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Root biomassBelow-ground allometry modelsPopulus spp.Root:shoot ratioShort Rotation Coppice (SRC)journal article10.1016/j.foreco.2018.06.0311872-7042open access