Biomass and production of a naturally regenerated oak forest in southern Korea

Biomass and production of two stands with Quercus variabilis Bl. as the dominant species (stands 1 and 3) and one with Q. mongolica Fisch. as the dominant species (stand 2) were investigated in southern Korea. Stands 1 and 3 naturally occurred on sites with southerly aspects while stand 2 naturally occurred on northerly aspects; stand ages were similar for the three stands (36-38 years old). Total above- and belowground biomass including understory vegetation (Mg ha^-1) was 108.4 for stand 1, 115.6 for stand 2, and 132.0 for stand 3, respectively. Understory vegetation constituted 17.4% of the total biomass in stand 1 but only 3.7-4.5% in stand 2 and stand 3. Roots constituted 20.1-24.6% of the biomass of the overstory vegetation. Although stand 3 showed the highest total biomass, net production was highest in stand 2 at 12.6 (Mg ha^-1 year^-1); net production levels for stands 1 and 3 were 11.7 and 11.1 (Mg ha^-1 year^-1), respectively. It appeared that the differences in site conditions related to aspect influenced the distribution of naturally regenerated oak species within a relatively small area and resulted in differences in biomass and production among the stands.