Biomass of forest and meadow in the Eastern Carpathians

A comparison between the biomass, primary productivity and distribution of organic matter in native mixed beech forest dominated by beech (Fagus sylva tica L.) and secondary meadow dominated by Nardus stricta L. within the bee ch forest belt in the Eastern Carpathians has been made. In the forest a to tal biomass of 371.9 t.ha(-1) was found with 286.4 t.ha(-1) and 85.5 t.ha(- 1) for aboveground and belowground biomass respectively. Corresponding resu lts for the primary productivity were 17.0, 13.1 and 3.8 t.ha(-1).year(-1). A productivity of ground vegetation was equal to 0.7 t.ha(-1).year(-1). Th e litter fall reached an average 3.6 +/-0.1 t.ha(-1).year(-1). In the meado w biomass of above and belowground parts was 2.3 and 8.1 t.ha(-1). The prim ary productivity was 4.6 t.ha(-1).year(-1) (43 % above and 57 % belowground portions).