Study the effects of slope and species composition on soil carbon sequestration in rangelands of north Sabalan

Mir Ghaffari Tolon, Seyyedeh Neda (2017) Study the effects of slope and species composition on soil carbon sequestration in rangelands of north Sabalan. Masters thesis, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili.

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Text (بررسی اثرات شیب و ترکیب گونه ا ی بر میزان ترسیب کربن خاک در مراتع شمال سبلان) Seyyedeh Neda Mir¬ Ghaffari Tolon.pdf Download (401kB) | Preview

Abstract

Rangelands play an important role in reducing carbon dioxide as one of the most important ecosystems of the world. The use of carbon storage capacity in plant tissues and soil has been seriously considered in recent decades. Considering the existence of different climatic regions in Iran, attention to the contribution and amount of carbon sediment of each of these regions is notable. Therefore, the soil carbon sediment capacity of the northern Sabalan in Qotoursoui region was investigated in three slope classes including: 0-20, 20-40, 40-60 percent and two plant community including: grassland and forb-grassland (totally, six habitats or sites). Vegetation sampling was conducted on each site / habitat at three transects (totally 18 transects) and ten 1 m2 plots in each transect (totally 180 plots). Soil samples were collected from two soil depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm in each transect. Two transects were parallel and the third transect was perpendicular to them at each site / habitat. The percentage of clay, sand, silt, organic carbon, particle organic carbon, lime, nitrogen, moisture, and potassium (ppm), phosphorus (ppm), pH, electrical conductivity (µs/cm), Bulk density (gr/cm3) and carbon sediment (Ton/ha) were measured at both depths of soil. Results show that most soil parameters and soil carbon sequestration under the type of plant composition, soil depth and slope showed significant changes. The highest amount of soil carbon sequestration was measured at the 60-40% slope of meadow community at the first depth (0-15) of soil with a numerical value of 72.36 t/ha, which except for the meadow community with the sloe of 0-20% and 0-15 cm depth (69.51-ton ha-1) showed significant differences with other measurements. The lowest amount of carbon sequestration was found in 0-20% slope of shrub community at the second depth (52.93 ton/ha) of soil. The most important reasons for the high carbon sequestration in the meadow community in the first depth and high slopes are primarily the high vegetation cover and direct effect of soil above horizon on the vegetation cover and the lack of road accessibility, thus low disturbance with the increase of slope. The vegetation composition of the meadow community clearly show that due to the high percentage and density of vegetation cover, it could be considered as a carbon sink and has a significant role in carbon sequestration. In the meantime, the maintenance or improvement of vegetation cover can be effective in the increasing carbon sequestration either in the meadow or shrub communities.

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