Use of soil carbon fractions for improving the diagnosis of soil C and N loss sensitivity to forest biomass harvesting in the Centre -Val de Loire region, France

The use of residual biomass from forest harvesting for energy production is viewed as a means to reduce fossil-fuel consumption. However, the impact of wood energy harvesting on soil and future site productivity remains a major concern. During this fellowship, we analysed why forest biomass harvesting of whole trees in Quebec reduced soil organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) reserves in certain sites. We also estimated soil C and N labile and stable fractions in the Centre-Val de Loire region in France, and its relationship with current soil sensitivity indices to residual biomass harvesting. This research shed new insights on soil properties that could explain their sensitivity or resilience to forest biomass harvesting. We believe that this fellowship made a significant contribution to scientific knowledge and address pressing societal challenges.