The Effect of Different Types of Land Uses on Carbon Sequestration and Soil Erosion in Jazinak Region of Sistan

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigation the effect of different land uses (forest, rangeland, cane brake and bare land) on carbon sequestration and soil erosion in Jazink region located in Zahak city, Sistan and Baluchestan province. For this purpose, following the field evaluation of various land uses, soil samples were taken from at depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm for each land use. Some soil properties including organic carbon, texture, bulk density, sequestered carbon and soil stability index (MWD) were measured according to standard methods. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA analysis in a completely randomized block design, and the averages were compared by Tukey test at 95% confidence level using SPSS software. The results showed that the amount of bulk density at various soil depths in cane brake land use had the lowest of 0.992 and 0.956 gr/cm3, respectively, and in the bare land had the highest value about 1.59 and 1.61 gr/ cm3, respectively. Carbon sequestration in land use by cane brake was 3234.02 and 2455.32 kg/ha, respectively, and in bare land, it was the lowest around 1967.37 and 987.65 kg/ha. Soil stability in the bare land was the lowest at 0.342 mm and the highest in the canebrake land use at 1.67 mm. Higher amount of carbon and organic matter in the soil and the lower bulk density indicates that the soil is more stable and resistant to erosion. In this region, cane brake and forest land uses have the highest degree of stability and carbon sequestration among land uses. These results can be very useful for decision-making and for choosing suitable management practices and desertification programs in arid areas such as this region.

Keywords

• soil organic carbon stock
• ecosystem stability
• soil gradation
• drylands