Rostam Moslempour; Reza Yari; Seyedeh Mahboubeh Mirmiran
Volume 31, Issue 4 , January 2025, , Pages 347-362
Abstract
Background and objectives: Desert ecosystems usually receive less attention in carbon sequestration studies due to their low vegetation cover and limited carbon sequestration. However, since more than a third of the earth's surface covers 55% of the total area of Iran and more than 50% of the area of ...
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Background and objectives: Desert ecosystems usually receive less attention in carbon sequestration studies due to their low vegetation cover and limited carbon sequestration. However, since more than a third of the earth's surface covers 55% of the total area of Iran and more than 50% of the area of South Khorasan province, so they can be a significant carbon storage place. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the carbon sequestration by six desert species: Calligonum polygonoides, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Artemisia sieberi, Stipagrostis pennata, Salsoa richteri and Zygophyllum eurypterum in the rangeland of Ferdows.Methodology: In this Study, 30 plots of four square meters were randomly established in Calligonum polygonoides, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Zygophyllum eurypterum and Salsoa richteri and in Artemisia sieberi and Stipagrostis pennata habitats, 30 plots of two square meters were randomly established and the canopy percentage and plant density were estimated in each plot. Vegetation cover and plant density were estimated in each plot. In the same plots, the soil profile was dredged down to a depth of 70 cm under the canopy, and the soil sample was taken and transported to the laboratory. By estimating the percentage of soil organic carbon (using the Walkley-Black method) and bulk density of the soils (using the paraffin method), the amount of soil carbon sequestration was finally measured. The data was used in the form of a completely random design, and Tukey's test was used to compare the means at the five percent probability level. The Shapiro-Wilk and Bartlett tests were used to check whether residual value variances were normal and homogeneous. The data obtained from the results of the experiments were analyzed using R software.Results: In general, the results showed that the highest amount of soil organic carbon was observed in Salsoa richteri and Artemisia sieberi habitats and the lowest amount was observed in Seidlitzia rosmarinus habitat. The highest amount of bulk density was observed in Calligonum polygonoides habitats. The results of the analysis of variance showed that the effect of the habitat on soil carbon sequestration is significant (p<0.01) and the amount of this effect is moderate to high (ηp2 between 0.10 and 0.47). The highest and lowest amount of carbon sequestration was observed in Zygophyllum eurypterum (28.66 tons per hectare) and Seidlitzia rosmarinus (12.80 tons per hectare habitats, respectively. Also, in terms of the percentage of vegetation, a significant difference was observed between habitats. The highest and lowest of vegetation cover percentage was obtained in Zygophyllum eurypteru (36.84%) and Seidlitzia rosmarinus (10.15%) habitats, respectively. Seidlitzia rosmarinus habitat had the lowest amount of soil organic carbon and also the highest percentage of vegetation, and compared to other plants, it produced the lowest amount of carbon sequestration. The highest and lowest plant density was obtained in the Stipagrostis pennata and Zygophyllum eurypterum habitats, respectively. Despite the high organic carbon in the soil of its habitat, Salsoa richteri plant also had low carbon sequestration due to the low density and percentage of vegetation cover. The results of correlation analysis show that there is a positive and significant relationship between vegetation percentage and carbon sequestration (p<0.01), but no significant relationship was observed between plant density and carbon sequestration (p>0.05).Conclusion: The amount of carbon sequestration was different depending on the percentage of vegetation and there was a positive and significant relationship between the percentage of vegetation and the amount of carbon sequestration, while no relationship was observed between the amount of vegetation density and carbon sequestration. So, in this study, Zygophyllum eurypterum habitat produced the highest percentage of vegetation cover and carbon sequestration, and Seidlitzia rosmarinus habitat had the lowest percentage of vegetation cover and carbon sequestration. Therefore, the vegetation percentage parameter can be used to estimate carbon sequestration. In other words, in the habitats that have bushy and shrubby plants, it is possible to estimate the amount of carbon sequestration based on the canopy percentage.
Kourosh Behnamfar; Seyed Ataollah Siadat; Mohammad Hasan Salehe Shoshtari
Volume 21, Issue 1 , June 2014, , Pages 41-50
Abstract
In order to study and design a mixed plantation of rangeland and forest species (silvopastoral system), four rangeland species and three shrub and tree species were planted with different row spacings on the sand dunes of Karkheh river, in Khuzestan province. The biological stabilization of sand ...
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In order to study and design a mixed plantation of rangeland and forest species (silvopastoral system), four rangeland species and three shrub and tree species were planted with different row spacings on the sand dunes of Karkheh river, in Khuzestan province. The biological stabilization of sand dunes and production of forage were the aims of this study. The selection of species was done according to their ability to improve the production of forage, firewood, and industrial wood as well as species diversity. The study was performed using split plot in a completely randomized design with three replications for four years. The main treatment included tree and shrub species (Eucalyptu camaldulensis 9616, Acacia victoriae ,Prosopis juliflora). Row spacings of 4*4, 5*5, 6*6, and rangeland species (Panicum antidotale,Cenchrus ciliaris ,Cymbopogon olivieri , Pennisetum divisum) were considered as the first and second sub-treatments, respectively.Vitality percentage of all species, forage yield of rangeland species, and height growth of shrub and tree species were measured. Data were analyzed by SAS software and mean comparisons were performed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. According to the results, C. olivieri (90%) and C. ciliaris (60%) showed the highest and lowest vitality of rangeland species. Among tree and shrub species, E. camaldulensis (80%), P. juliflora (65%), and A. victoriae (50%), showed the highest vitality, respectively.In four-meter row spacings of E. camaldulensis, forage yield of all range species decreased. In terms of height growth, E. camaldulensis, with a height of around 3.5 m, was better as compared to the other two species. The highest average dry matter yield was recorded for P. divisum (1437 Kg ha-1), P. antidotale (1035 Kg ha-1), C. olivieri (380 Kg ha-1), and C. ciliaris (235 Kg ha-1), respectively. Therefore, the determination of appropriate row spacing for trees causes to increase of species diversity as well as continued and increasing forage production and utilization.