Soil carbon pool changes following semi-arid lands planting programs

Abstract

Success in carbon sequestration projects (CSPs) is a challenging issue in semi-arid regions, therefor the objective of this report was to monitor soil carbon stock (SCS) through tree planting programs (TPPs) in Iran’s central lands. We monitored SC pool changes in rhizosphere of Haloxylon persicum Bunge, Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt., Nitraria schoberi L. and Amygdalus scoparia Spach planted in pure form under densities of 200 plants/ha (Den1) and 275 plants/ha (Den2) every two years 2004 to 2018. Results demonstrated carbon sequestration (CS) depends strongly on the type of species and its density at the early stage of TPPs (P < 0.01). Also under Den2, the rate of CS changes had an erratic trend under TPPs and the maximum biennial rate was 23.0, 18.5, 13.7 and 17.0% for H. persicum, A. canescens, N. schoberi and A. scoparia, respectively. Interestingly this report, significant increase of 271.19, 222.00, 138.90 and 206.40 kg h−1, respectively has occurred in 0.3 m soil depth after 14 years’.