Arash Derik; Ghavamoddin Zahedi Amiri; Mohammad Jafari; Mehran Zand
Abstract
Increased concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide due to human activities has resulted in accelerated global warming process. Forestation is the most effective way to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and store it in terrestrial ecosystems in order to reduce and mitigate global warming. This study ...
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Increased concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide due to human activities has resulted in accelerated global warming process. Forestation is the most effective way to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and store it in terrestrial ecosystems in order to reduce and mitigate global warming. This study aimed to investigate the comparison of soil carbon sequestration in various stands in Kuhdasht Aquifer and to present the best regression model for carbon sequestration based on all soil characteristics. In each stand (20-year old) of Ficus carica, Punica granatum, Pistacia vera, Amygdalus lycioides and Cupressus arizonica species as well as control rangeland, a number of 10 sample plots (5×5 m) were randomly selected and soil samples were taken in each plot at 0-10, 10-30 and 30-50 cm depths. All soil samples were transferred to the laboratory in order to measure soil characteristics including soil texture, organic carbon, bulk density, electrical conductivity, lime percentage and soil acidity. The results showed that the highest value of carbon sequestration in soil of Pistacia vera stand (54.94 tha-1) significantly (P <%1) higher compared to other stands, followed by Ficus carica (50.23 tha-1), Amygdalus lycioides (31.53 tha-1), Punica granatum (27.09 tha-1), Cupressus arizonica (24.17 tha-1) and control rangeland (9.01 tha-1) stands. Results also showed significant differences (P <%1) between the studied stands in terms of soil texture, acidity, organic carbon, electrical conductivity and soil bulk density. Also, the result of stepwise regression indicated that soil texture and acidity were the most important components affecting soil carbon sequestration, respectively.
Mohammad Gheitury; Mosayeb Heshmati; Yahya Parvizi; Mahmoh Arabkhedri; Mahmod Tabatabaei; Khosroo Shahbazi
Abstract
Now a day, carbon sequestration is an important issue due to its serious role on global warming. The aim of this research was to evaluate mechanical measure of check dams on vegetation cover and soil carbon storage in watersheds of Kermanshah Province, Iran. These check dams were constructed in the drainage ...
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Now a day, carbon sequestration is an important issue due to its serious role on global warming. The aim of this research was to evaluate mechanical measure of check dams on vegetation cover and soil carbon storage in watersheds of Kermanshah Province, Iran. These check dams were constructed in the drainage systems to reduce surface runoff velocity and optimize channel slope. Small sedimentary dams are made by gabions and dry structures. The soil and vegetation characteristics of the areas under mechanical operation and its control (severe grazing and grazing management) by field survey in selected sites of Gilan Ghab, Kangavar and Sarfirozabad. The plant biomass including canopy cover and plant root as well as plant litter were samplled along transect path using the quadrat plot. 36 soil sampls were collected from 0-20 cm of soil depths and were air dried and sieved through two milimeter mesh and analyzed in the soil laboratory. Soil organic carbon was measured by the Walkley and Black method and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software (version 19). Results showed that both mechanical (check dams) contributed to store 49.28 tonha-1 of carbon which was significantly lower than biological measures. It was concluded that vegetation cover has the most effects on carbon sequestration of the rangelands compared to mechanical methods.
Mosayeb Heshmati; Mohammad Ghaietury; Mahmood Arabkhedri; Yahya Parvizi
Abstract
Forest and land use change has many negative consequences including increased flooding, erosion, sedimentation and dust storms. The aim of the research was thus to investigate the effects of land use change in Zagros forests on erodibility and sedimentation via soil quality reduction in some forests ...
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Forest and land use change has many negative consequences including increased flooding, erosion, sedimentation and dust storms. The aim of the research was thus to investigate the effects of land use change in Zagros forests on erodibility and sedimentation via soil quality reduction in some forests of Kermanshah Province, Iran. In order to achieve this aim, in the first step, afforest area and its adjacent rain-fed farm (which is developed during recent 10 years a result of forest land change), were selected and 35 soil samples were collected from the surface layer (0-20 cm). Then, the physico-chemical analyses were done on the soil samples. In the next step, soil erodibility factor was calculated and sediment yield was assessed using portable rainfall simulator. The results showed that six key properties of soil including soil aggregate stability, bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total absorbable potassium and cation exchange capacity were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by land use type. Additionally, in all tested samples, the total clay and silt content was about 80%, which resulted in the formation of soil with heavy texture. Subsequently soil erodibility factor (K) and sediment yield intensity in rain-fed farm was found significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of forest. According to the results and the role of Zagros forest ecosystem on water harvesting, aquifer recharge, flood and dust control, the current trend of changing forest landuse to arable lands accompanying improper tillage practice, crops residue burning and heavy machinery traffic in nearby rain-fed farms, cause accelerating global warming, increasing runoff coefficient and evaporation as well as water scarcity in future.
Farzad Bayat Movahhed; Davood Nikkami; Mohammad Tokasi; Parviz Moradi; Hamideh Daghigh
Abstract
In arid and semi-arid regions the precipitation occurs erratically, and often, with high intensity which causes sediment production and soil loss especially in the areas ploughed parallel to the hill slope direction. In such areas, we can reduce those undesirable effects through employing proper management ...
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In arid and semi-arid regions the precipitation occurs erratically, and often, with high intensity which causes sediment production and soil loss especially in the areas ploughed parallel to the hill slope direction. In such areas, we can reduce those undesirable effects through employing proper management method. In this survey the effect of two treatments of applying straw mulch in standard plots and over three slope classes of 0-12, 12-20, and 20-40 % with three replicates in the split plot format on the base of RCB design were compared. In all plots, the parallel plough to slope direction was done. After wheat cultivation, on the half of plots, straw mulch was applied uniformly by hand on the soil surface. After any rainfall events, the amount of sediment was measured. Results showed that application of straw mulch caused a reduction of about 36.9, 10.8, and 55.4 % soil loss in three slope classes compared to the plots without mulch application respectively. These amounts for organic carbon loss were 33.2, 7.1, and 29.43 %. Statistical analysis by SAS software showed that difference between two treatments for sediment and Organic Carbon was significant at 5% probability. These results show that straw mulch application can highly increase the infiltration and water absorption and reduce soil and O.C. loss. Also, it can prevent the reduction of soil fertility through reducing organic material loss.
