Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3092
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3092
29 Oct 2024
 | 29 Oct 2024

Saturating response of photosynthesis to increasing leaf area index allows selective harvest of trees without affecting forest productivity

Olivier Bouriaud, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Konstantin Gregor, Issam Bourkhris, Peter Högberg, Roland Irslinger, Phillip Papastefanou, Julia Pongratz, Anja Rammig, Riccardo Valentini, and Christian Körner

Abstract. Maintaining or increasing forest carbon sinks is considered essential to mitigate the rise of atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Harvesting trees is perceived as having negative consequences on both the standing biomass stocks and the carbon sink strength. However, harvesting needs to be examined from a forest stand canopy perspective since carbon assimilation occurs in the canopy. Here we show that a threshold of leaf area exists beyond which additional leaves do not contribute to ecosystem fluxes. The associated biomass can be harvested without affecting the forest carbon fluxes. Based on eddy covariance measurements we show that CO2 uptake (GPP) and net ecosystem exchange (NEP) in temperate forests are of similar magnitude in both unmanaged and sustainably managed forests, in the order of 1500–1600 gC m-2 y-1 for GPP and 542 – 483 gC m−2 y−1 for NEP. A threshold of about 4 m2 m-2 LAI (leaf area index) can be used as a definition of sustainable harvesting with regard to CO2 uptake. Simulations based on the LPJ-GUESS model reproduce the saturation of GPP and NEP and convergence on the LAI threshold range. Accordingly, in managed forests, trees can be harvested while maintaining a high tree biomass and carbon sink of the remaining stand. In this case competition between neighbour trees in unmanaged forests is replaced by harvest management. In unmanaged forests, competition for light, nutrient and water cause self-thinning, thereby limiting the carbon sink strength.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Biogeosciences

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Sep 2025
A saturating response of photosynthesis to an increasing leaf area index allows selective harvest of trees without affecting forest productivity
Olivier Bouriaud, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Konstantin Gregor, Issam Boukhris, Peter Högberg, Roland Irslinger, Phillip Papastefanou, Julia Pongratz, Anja Rammig, Riccardo Valentini, and Christian Körner
Biogeosciences, 22, 4729–4741, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-4729-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-4729-2025, 2025
Short summary
Olivier Bouriaud, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Konstantin Gregor, Issam Bourkhris, Peter Högberg, Roland Irslinger, Phillip Papastefanou, Julia Pongratz, Anja Rammig, Riccardo Valentini, and Christian Körner

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3092', Jean-Daniel Bontemps, 23 Jan 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on CC1', Olivier Bouriaud, 22 Feb 2025
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3092', Anonymous Referee #1, 27 Jan 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Olivier Bouriaud, 21 Feb 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3092', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Olivier Bouriaud, 21 Feb 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3092', Jean-Daniel Bontemps, 23 Jan 2025
    • AC3: 'Reply on CC1', Olivier Bouriaud, 22 Feb 2025
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3092', Anonymous Referee #1, 27 Jan 2025
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Olivier Bouriaud, 21 Feb 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3092', Anonymous Referee #2, 31 Jan 2025
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Olivier Bouriaud, 21 Feb 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (24 Feb 2025) by Paul Stoy
AR by Olivier Bouriaud on behalf of the Authors (31 Mar 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (01 Apr 2025) by Paul Stoy
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (17 Apr 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (29 Apr 2025) by Paul Stoy
AR by Olivier Bouriaud on behalf of the Authors (09 May 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (11 May 2025) by Paul Stoy
AR by Olivier Bouriaud on behalf of the Authors (02 Jun 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

17 Sep 2025
A saturating response of photosynthesis to an increasing leaf area index allows selective harvest of trees without affecting forest productivity
Olivier Bouriaud, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Konstantin Gregor, Issam Boukhris, Peter Högberg, Roland Irslinger, Phillip Papastefanou, Julia Pongratz, Anja Rammig, Riccardo Valentini, and Christian Körner
Biogeosciences, 22, 4729–4741, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-4729-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-4729-2025, 2025
Short summary
Olivier Bouriaud, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Konstantin Gregor, Issam Bourkhris, Peter Högberg, Roland Irslinger, Phillip Papastefanou, Julia Pongratz, Anja Rammig, Riccardo Valentini, and Christian Körner
Olivier Bouriaud, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Konstantin Gregor, Issam Bourkhris, Peter Högberg, Roland Irslinger, Phillip Papastefanou, Julia Pongratz, Anja Rammig, Riccardo Valentini, and Christian Körner

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Latest update: 17 Sep 2025
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Short summary
The impact of harvesting on forests' carbon sink capacities is debated. One view is that their sink strength is resilient to harvesting, the other that it disrupts these capacities. Our work shows that leaf area index (LAI) has been overlooked in this discussion. We found that temperate forests' carbon uptake is largely insensitive to variations in LAI beyond about 4 m² m-², but that forests operate at higher levels.
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