Net ecosystem production of a planted mixed broadleaved forest in the Po valley.

CARBOEUROFLUX project addresses the measurement of carbon and energy fluxes on various terrestrial ecosystems of the European continent. The project includes sites that can be considered as "case Studies" of the so called Kyoto ecosystems, forest plantations on former agricultural or meadows (forestation/reforestation activities) with ages ranging from 7 to 30 years. Measuring carbon sequestration rates of these forests can provide insights on their potential for carbon storage and validation of models of forest growth. Nonantola reforestation is one of these ecosystems. A 38 ha forest has been established in 1992 close to the town of Nonantola (Modena). The specific age and the location of this broadleaves mixed plantation characterises the Nonantola site as a Kyoto forest, large in extension if the limited size of the region and the fragmentation of the fields typical of rural areas are considered. Mean annual temperature is around 14°C and the site is dominated by weak winds. The total annual precipitation is around 640 mm. The measurements started on September 2000. A closure of the turbulent heat fluxes to within 14 % of the value of net radiation minus the soil heat flux could be attained. Following the first year of continuous monitoring, Nonantola forest was found to sink about 3.72 t C ha-1 yr-1 from the atmosphere.