Thinning Effect of C Sequestration along an Elevation Gradient of Mediterranean Pinus spp. Plantations

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I read with attention the manuscripts entitled: Thinning effect of C sequestration along an elevation gradient of Mediterranean Pinus spp. plantations

The paper studied the influence of thinning treatments on the growth patterns of some of the main Mediterranean pine species and on their C fixation capacity, both in terms of living biomass and soil organic carbon

The results evidenced that C sequestration capacity (biomass and SOC) increases at higher thinning intensities, due to induced alterations in tree growth.

In my opinion, the setting of the tests is well done, and the description of the results is supported by the bibliography. The work appears well set and written.

My main concern is the scarcity of the results on soil analyzes.

 These physical and chemical data could, together with the pedoclimatic data, better explain the different distribution of the organic matter in the different profiles.

Another aspect that should be considered to better understand the turnover of the organic substances is the determination of humic and fulvic carbon and their distribution in soil profiles

Author Response

"Please see the attachment"

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper examines the effect of thinning on growth and C sequestration in Meditteranean pine species. This results show that C stocks are increased by thinning. 

Major comments

Section 2.3 It is unclear if there is a litter layer in these sites. if there is not please mention it clearly and provide references. If there is please explain why it was not sampled separately to the soil?

Conclusions

Although not include in the study I would like you to consider the effect of thinning on the volume of different assortments (e.g. sawlog, pulp) and how it may influence the post harvest use and life time of wood products.

Minor comments

L26-27 Are politicians really doing this? Anthropogenic activity, either directly or indirectly, continues to impact forests negatively. Perhaps you should identify the policy requirement for action.

L42-43 Rephrase this sentence, what is 'derived turn'? 

L46 CHnage 'potentiate' to 'influence'

L54-55 This sentence is confusing. SOC is in the soil and therefore not an input? 

L56 Is this mention of boreal forest relevant? Perhaps it is better to emphasise what is important about Meditteranean forests?

L66 'Notorious growing threat' is not very scientific language, please specify these threats?

L68 Delete 'as consequence, the'

L94 Change 'being' to 'with'

L135 Change 'pulled by' to 'taken using'

L138 What is 'craggy'? Change to a technical term.

L143 Change 'filtered' to 'sieved'.

L153 What is 1.724? Explain.

L167 Change to 'In the laboratory sores were air dired at room temperature...'

L255 Change 'proving' to 'in demostrating'

L280 Provide more inforamtion on 'active erosion processes'. Are these soils vulnerable to erosion? 

 

Author Response

"Please see the attachment"

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf