Journal of Range and Watershed Managment

Abstract Carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems is an important part of global carbon storage and plays a vital role in mitigating climate change. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of different types of land uses/land covers (dense rangelands, semi-dense rangelands, low density rangelands, barren lands and agricultural lands) on the amount of soil carbon and plant biomass sequestration as an important ecosystem service in Sefiddasht watershed in in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. Sampling of soil and vegetation was done randomly and systematically. For this purpose, 60 plots of 4 square meters were used for collecting soil, plant material and litter. Plant biomass was sampled by direct measurement method. Soil samples were also collected from the depth of 0-30 cm and 20 samples in each area. The results showed that there is a significant difference between the investigated regions in terms of total carbon storage. The total carbon storage from the highest to the lowest in order includes dense rangelands (46.42 tons/ha), semi-dense rangelands (38.49 tons/ha), agricultural lands (31.62 tons/ha), low-density rangelands (26.12 tons) per hectare) and barren lands (17.21 tons per hectare). The economic value of the total carbon storage per hectare of the examined uses, including dense rangelands, semi-dense rangelands, agricultural lands, low-dense rangelands, and barren lands, was determined to be $5446, $4516, $3710, $3065, and $2019, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the implementation of appropriate policies to prevent or minimize the conversion of land uses with a higher carbon storage capacity to land uses with a lower carbon storage capacity is of particular importance.

Abstract This study aims to examine the role and value of local community awareness of the economic value of carbon sequestration as an important rangeland ecosystem services in order to increase the participation of local community for conservation of rangeland‌. In order to explain the role and value of awareness in increasing the participation of people in both experimental and control groups, Contingent Valuation Method and dichotomous choice – double bounded format was used and willingness of local communities to pay to preserve pastures were measured. The results showed in two separate groups have a significant difference in terms of willingness to pay for conservation of rangeland, that the difference between the willingness to pay represents the exact value of awareness in increasing willingness to pay for conservation of pasture. In the experimental group, the average willingness to pay was 89410.84 Rials and in the control group average, the average willingness to pay was 32560.88 Rials. The difference between the average willingness of people to pay in two groups is the equivalent of 57039.12 Rials. The average willingness of people to pay each year in the village of test and control group respectively is 2587230.6 and 1657100.05 Rials. The proposed knowledge up to local communities in the Malard County of the carbon sequestration process as well as the role and its position in relation to the welfare of local communities, especially with regard to the beginning of the implementation of the International Generalized Carbon Sequestration in the county take priority.

Abstract This study aimed to effect of converting rangeland to afforestation on carbon and nitrogen storage was done in forested areas of Hassan Abad in Sanandaj. Masses of studied was include Cupressus arizonica, Pinus eldarica, Fraxinus rotundifolia, Robinia psedoacacia and Thuja orientalis whit an average age of 20 years and adjacent rangeland that converting was not created was selected as control. Sampling of soil was done in afforestation mass and control and characteristics of organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, percent clay, silt and sand was measured. To compare the effect of forestry corrective operations on carbon sequestration was used independent t-test analysis and to compare the effects of different types of afforestation on soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration rates was used one-way ANOVA. Results shows that Robinia psedoacacia have a significant effect on increase of carbon and nitrogen sequestered and amount of phosphorus and potassium in soil and in total in Robinia psedoacacia mass amount of cabon sequestered and nitrogen stored in soil was calculated 80.62 and 5.42 ton/ha and in control 47.05 and 3.08 ton/ha and Robinia psedoacacia mass cause to increase of soil carbon and nitrogen amount of 71 and 75 percent and lowest amount of carbon and nitrogen was obtained in soil of Cupressus arizonica mass. Stepwise regression results showed that nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively are most important components affecting in soil of investigated mass.

Abstract Global warming and climate change have drawn special attention to soil and its potential for stable carbon sequestration. Soils are the largest stores of carbon in terrestrial carbon cycle and contain about three times more carbon than vegetation cover and two times more than that of atmosphere. Studying the effects of grazing on soil carbon storage is important because of the major role soil organic carbon has in production. Grazing is potent for changing the carbon storage of rangeland ecosystems. In this research, the effect of different grazing intensities on carbon sequestration and nitrogen stabilization in pastures cultivated with Atriplex canescens in Shahriar was studied. Soil and plant samplings were done in low, moderate and high grazing intensity areas as well as exclosure, using randomized – systematic method. Soil samples were taken from 0-10, 10-30 and 30-100 Cm depths of 20 soil profiles. In each soil sample, stone percent, bulk density, organic carbon and nitrogen were calculated. Data analysis was done using one – way ANOVA and Duncan test in SPSS 17 software. Results showed that all three grazing intensities have caused significant reduction in carbon and nitrogen of soil.

Abstract Understanding the relationship between soil and plant is essential for reclamation of degraded lands. In order to investigate the relationship between Atriplex halimus density with carbon sequestration the rangeland of Incheborun was studied. Soil samples were collected randomly by Auger in the depth of 0-30 cm of the soil profile in three different plant densities (<200, 200-400 and >400 stand per hectare) with 30 replications.  The data were subjected to ANOVA using statistical software SPSS 21.0. Means were separated by T-test at P≤0.5. The results of this research showed that the soil organic carbon have ranging from 0.48 to 0.64 (with an average of 0.56%) in Atriplex plantation areas, while the organic carbon have ranging from 0.03 to 0.12 (with an average of 0.078%) in the control region.Therefore, plantation measures caused significant difference in soil organic carbon contents per unit area in Atriplex plantation areas as compared to that observed in the control area. Sequestered carbon in per unit is 26.27, 27.85 and 30.66 ton_/ha respectively for low, medium and high Atriplex density areas. The results indicated that the rate of organic carbon as well as soil carbon sequestration increased with plant density. There were no significant difference among sequestered carbon and soil organic carbon values under those three different levels of densities, while significant difference were observed between three plantation areas and control area.  

Abstract Carbon sequestration potential of three species including Agropyron elengatum, Stipa barbata and Artemisia aucheri was evaluated in parts of a semi-arid rangeland in this study. After determination and selecting key areas as study sites, sampling from vegetation and soil, based on randomized systematic method, was done and 90 plant and 45 soil samples were taken, respectively. Shooting and rooting organs of the species were separated from each other after transfer to the laboratory and carbon sequestration coefficient of plant organs was determined with combustion method.Then carbon sequestration coefficient of different species, organs and soil under these species were analyzed. The results showed that carbon sequestration rate between studied three species, had significantly statistical difference (p<%5) while Artemisia aucheri had the highest carbon sequestration rate in the region. Also carbon sequestration between organs (roots, stems and leaves) of three species showed significantly statistical difference (p<%5). Investigation of soil carbon storage showed that Artemisia aucher stores 29.445 t/ha carbon in the soil which is higher than other studied species.