Effects of grazing exclusure on some soil physical and, its erodibility and carbon sequestration (Case study: Bozdaghin rangelands, North Khorasan, Iran)

Niknahad, Hamid; Aghtabye, Abdolbaset; Akbarlou, Mousa

doi:10.22092/ijrdr.2017.114058

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

² M.Sc. Student in Range Management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22092/ijrdr.2017.114058

Abstract

In view of the increasing adoption of rangeland exclosure in order to rangeland improvement and carbon sequestration, investigation of its effects on the soil properties and calculation of the economic value of sequestered carbon is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in some soil physico-chemical properties, carbon sequestration rate and its economic value following grazing exclosure as compared with open grazing areas in Bozdaghi rangelands in North - Khorasan province, Iran. Therefore, in each area (exclosure and open grazing) three transects of 500 meter length and 200 meter intervals) were set up. Along each transect, five soil samples were taken at the depth of 0–15 cm in a random – systematic method (15 soil samples in each area) and transferred to the laboratory. In the laboratory, some soil physical and chemical properties such as soil texture, bulk density, porosity, saturation percentage, pH , EC , percentage of organic matter, total nitrogen, the amount of cation exchange capacity, exchangeable sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were measured and erodibility index was calculated by using the modified clay ratio relation. Data analysis was performed by using independent t test in SPSS v.16 software. The results demonstrated that establishment of exclosure in Bozdaghi rangelands had significant positive effects on soil physico-chemical properties, and reduced the soil erodability index significantly (P< 0.05). The mean value of sequestered carbon in the soil of exclosure area was significantly higher than that of open grazing area (P< 0.05) and its economic value was estimated to be 4709760 toman per hectare. According to the results, especially the high economic value of sequestered carbon in the soil of exclosure area, establishment of exclosure in the study area is recommended.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research

Effects of grazing exclusure on some soil physical and, its erodibility and carbon sequestration (Case study: Bozdaghin rangelands, North Khorasan, Iran)

References

References

Volume 24, Issue 4
January 2018
Pages 708-718

Effects of grazing exclusure on some soil physical and, its erodibility and carbon sequestration (Case study: Bozdaghin rangelands, North Khorasan, Iran)

References

References

Volume 24, Issue 4January 2018Pages 708-718

Volume 24, Issue 4
January 2018
Pages 708-718