Articles | Volume 23, issue 20
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-7591-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-7591-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
29 Oct 2026
Research article |
| 29 Oct 2026
| 29 Oct 2026
Contribution of fine roots on carbon allocation patterns in Norwegian forests
Andreas Hagenbo
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Postboks 115, 1431 Ås, Norway
Ryan M. Bright
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Postboks 115, 1431 Ås, Norway
Christian Wilhelm Mohr
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Postboks 115, 1431 Ås, Norway
Marius Hauglin
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Postboks 115, 1431 Ås, Norway
Simon Weldon
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Postboks 115, 1431 Ås, Norway
Lise Dalsgaard
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Postboks 115, 1431 Ås, Norway
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The study looked at published data on drained organic forest soils in boreal and temperate zones to revisit current Tier 1 default emission factors (EFs) provided by the IPCC Wetlands Supplement. We examined the possibilities of forming more site-type specific EFs and inspected the potential relevance of environmental variables for predicting annual soil greenhouse gas balances by statistical models. The results have important implications for EF revisions and national emission reporting.
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Short summary
Boreal forests are a major global carbon (C) sink, yet much productivity occurs belowground in fine roots, which are hard to measure and introduce uncertainty in regional C estimates. Using Norwegian forest maps and satellite data, we show that including fine root and understory production increases net primary production 3 to 5-fold relative to tree growth, with major implications on forest’s carbon use efficiency, highlighting the role of fine root dynamics for regional C accounting methods.
Boreal forests are a major global carbon (C) sink, yet much productivity occurs belowground in...
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