Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Desert studies Faculty, Semnan University, Iran

2 Ph.D. candidate of range management, University of Tehran, Iran

3 Ph.D. student of range management, University of Gorgan, Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Natural resources Faculty, University of Kurdistan, Iran This

Abstract

This study investigates monthly and seasonal variations of carbon emission from the soil at different grazing intensities. Three areas of exclosure, low and high grazing intensities were selected in Ghoosheh region of Semnan province. Carbon emission was measured monthly, in each treatment applying alkali traps (CSC) during a year. Emission and grazing data were analyzed, using a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with four replications. To investigate the relation of soil moisture and air temperature with carbon emissions in each area, Pearson correlation was used. Results showed that the emission levels under different grazing intensities had significant difference. The highest emission occurred in high grazing intensity, in August (3.34 g C m-2 day-1) and lowest in February (0.033 g C m-2 day-1) in exclosure. The seasonal distribution of emission showed the highest amount, in summer, autumn, winter and spring respectively. There was also a negative correlation between carbon emissions and soil moisture.

Keywords

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