Soil organic carbon storage in moutain grasslands of the Lake Plateau at Mt. Durmitor in Montenegro

Ratko Kadovic,Nenad Rankovic,Veljko Perovic,Milosav Andjelic,Milan Knezevic,Ivana Bjedov,Snezana Belanovic,Dragica Obratov-Petkovic

doi:10.2298/gsf1206113k

Ratko Kadovic, Nenad Rankovic + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2298/gsf1206113k

Copy DOI

Abstract

Soil organic C storage in mountain areas is highly heterogeneous, mainly as a result of local-scale variability in the soil environment and microclimate. The aims of the present study were to estimate soil organic carbon density (SOCD) and stocks in leptosol on morainic deposits of high-altitude grasslands of the Lake Plateau of Mt. Durmitor National Park in Montenegro, and determine the soil variables that can be used as factors to determine the SOCD at 28 soil profiles. Our results indicated that SOC storage in the top 40 cm of the alpine grasslands were estimated at 560 414.86 t C, or 152.66 t?ha-1, with an average density of 15.27 kg?m-2. The soil organic carbon density increased significantly with soil moisture, clay and silt content, but only moderately with mean annual temperature. In conjunction, these variables could explain approximately 51% of the total variation in SOC density.

Highlights

Soils contain a huge and dynamic pool of carbon (C), that is a critical regulator of the global carbon budget
Based on the regression and correlation analyses, it can be concluded with high reliability that the increase in aboveground biomass (AGB) by 1 g∙m–2 causes an increase in soil organic carbon density (SOCD) by 0.105 kg∙m–2
According to the relationship (Fig. 9 a-c), it can be claimed with high reliability that the increase in SM by 1% causes the increase in SOCD by 2.896 kg∙m–2)

Summary

Introduction

Soils contain a huge and dynamic pool of carbon (C), that is a critical regulator of the global carbon budget. As the repository for more than three-fourths of the earth’s terrestrial C, soils store 4.5 times the amount of C contained in vegetation (L a l , 2004). Increasing carbon storage in soils is one option helping to mitigate increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations and global climate change. In terrestrial ecosystems the amount of carbon in soil is usually greater than the amount in vegetation. It is important to understand the dynamics of soil carbon, as well as its role in terrestrial ecosystem, carbon balance and the global carbon cycle (Po s t and Kw o n , 2000). Soil carbon content and its changes represent some of the basic indicators of terrestrial ecosystem status. Numerous investigations have shown that organic carbon stocks in soils are determined by the land use

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion