Carbon sequestration potential in soil and stand of Nitraria schoberi L.

Abstract

Arid and semi-arid lands cover around one-third of the world's terrestrial expanse and their widespread plantdistributions provide these areas with a high potential for sequestering carbon. Vegetation management for developingshrub or tree species in arid and semi-arid regions is one inexpensive and multi-purpose approach for decreasing CO2.This study assessed the potential of carbon sequestration in the soil and biomass of a Nitraria schoberi L. stand in centralIran. Samples were taken from in N. schoberi L. stand and the adjacent native vegetation (Halocnemum strobilaceum M.B. and Seidlitzia rosmarinus (Ehrh.) Bge.) as control area at Hoze Soltan desert region. In both areas, the amounts ofaboveground and underground biomass of plant samples were calculated by cutting and weighing the aerial parts (leaves,stem) and roots. The ash method was used to determine the carbon sequestration coefficients of all samples and soilorganic carbon (SOC) was measured using Walkley and Black's methods. A comparison between the SOC of planted andcontrol areas showed no difference regarding the ability of carbon sequestration between the two areas. The resultsindicated that the total carbon sequestration of the N. schoberi L. stand (28.06 Mg/ha) was significantly higher (p<0.01)than the control area (18.64 Mg/ha) in the Hoze Soltan region.

Keywords

• carbon sequestration
• nitraria schoberi l
• hoze soltan
• iran