Falstone 2009: Long-Term Effects of Whole Tree Harvesting on Soil Carbon

Falstone 7 is the oldest whole tree harvesting experiment in Europe, established in Kielder Forest, UK. The dataset likely contains measurements from a 34-year-old Sitka spruce stand comparing treatments like Whole Tree Harvesting and stem-only harvesting. Soil surveys and aboveground tree parameter measurements were conducted over decades, with key findings published in 2010.

Use Cases

• Compare soil carbon sequestration between Whole Tree Harvesting and Conventional Harvesting based on treatment descriptions
• Analyze long-term growth impacts of harvesting methods based on recorded tree height and diameter data
• Evaluate nutrient leaching and soil nutrient changes following clear-felling as referenced in historical studies
• Model carbon allocation and balance in forest ecosystems using above and below-ground survey data

Strengths

• The site represents the oldest whole tree harvesting experiment in Europe, providing a unique long-term perspective
• Data collection spans over 34 years and includes multiple survey types, such as soil surveys in 2009 and tree parameter recordings every three years
• The study compares multiple specific treatments, including WTH, CH, OB, OO, HB, and FE

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service via eu_open_data

Collection Method

Field experiment with repeated measurements and surveys over a 34-year rotation.

Time Range

Long-term study spanning at least 34 years, with specific surveys noted in 2009 and 2010.

Geography

Kielder Forest, United Kingdom.