An investigation of carbon sequestration and plant biomass in modified rangeland communities (Case study: Sisab rangelands of Bojnord)
2012
Naghipour Borj, A.A., Ph.D Student in Range Sciences and Member of Young Researchers Club Islamic Azad University, Ardestan Branch, Iran | Haidarian Aghakhani, M., Msc. of Range Management. Faculty of Natural Resource & Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University | Nasri, M., Scientific Member of Islamic Azad University- Ardestan Branch
Rangelands contain between 10 and 30% of global soil organic C reserves and may be an important terrestrial ecosystem for carbon sequestration, most of rangelands have been converted to agriculture use but less C tends to be stored in them. The purpose of this study was to compare content and distribution of soil carbon sequestration in native rangelands, rangelands that were cultivated and then 1) seeded with non-native perennial grasses (Agropyron elongatum and Agropyron desertorum), (2) seeded with non-native shrub (Kochia prostrata), or 3) cropped annually with wheat, In semiarid rangelands of North Khorasan Province, Iran. The sampling method of vegetation cover and soil was randomized systematic and was collected from 30 1m2 plots in the along with 3 transect (100m). The content of above ground and under ground biomass carbon, litter carbon and soil organic carbon (in two depths 0-15, 15-30 cm) was determined. The result showed that the total carbon sequestration in native rangelands and soils under K. prostrata, A. elongatum and A. desertorum and wheat-fallow systems was 38.71, 23.66, 14.47, 18.32 and 13.57ton/ha, respectively. The highest and the least content of carbon sequestration were measured in plant communities, Native rangeland and Wheat-fallow, respectively. Carbon sequestration in soils under K. prostrata was been similar to native rangelands. The results of carbon distribution showed that the soil organic carbon content was 90% of total carbon sequestration. It was concluded that K. prostrata can sequestrate soil organic carbon much more than other treaements. soil is the most impotant sink for organic carbon storage in this rangelands.
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