Evaluation of Enclosure Effects on Soil Carbon Storage (Case Study: Rangeland of Shahtappeh-Chah Mahmood and Chiro in Semnan Province)

Document Type: Research and Full Length Article

Authors

1 Islamic Azad university (Branch: Noor)

2 CFaculty Members of Islamic Azad university (Branch: Noor)

3 Faculty Members of Islamic Azad university (Branch: Noor)

4 Faculty Member of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources University of Sari

Abstract

Livestock grazing is one of the most important kinds of land usage that has a high potential to decrease or increase carbon storage in rangeland ecosystem. This research was investigated the effects of enclosure on soil carbon storage in a rangeland with dominant plants of Artemisia aucheri. Hence, two rangelands of enclosure (Shahtappeh-Chah Mahmood) and no enclosure (Chiro) were chosen in Semnan province, Iran. For soil sampling, 20 plots of 1x1 m2 along with two vertical transects with 100 m length were used in each region. Then, two profiles were dug in 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths in soil of baseline and inter-path of plants in each plot. Data were collected for pH, EC, CaCO3, saturation moisture, soil texture, organic carbon (OC%) and s organic matter (OM%), Soil bulk density and Soil carbon storage and the mean was compared by t-test. The results showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between OC% and OM% of baseline in enclosure and no enclosure rangeland. Soil OC% and OM% in baseline in the first depth was more than the second depth in two study areas. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between soil OC% and OM% in baseline and inter-path of plants in two depths of enclosure and no enclosure rangelands. Soil bulk density (gr/ha) in baseline and inter-path of plants in 15-30 cm was more than 0-15 cm. In enclosure and no enclosure rangelands, grazing had no significant effects on soil organic carbon storage of baseline in each depth. So, the total carbon in 0-30 cm in each region was 47.46 and 40.85 ton/ha, respectively. There was a significant difference between carbon storage of baseline and inter-path of plants (P<0.05) in two depths in enclosure and control rangelands. It was concluded that higher carbon sequestration occurs in the soil, the soil biological and mechanical activities can increase.

Keywords

Journal of Rangeland Science

Volume 2, Issue 1
Winter 2012
Pages 439-448

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