Carbon sequestration potential of Eucalyptus and Acacia plantation in central areas of Iran

Carbon sequestration potential of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh and Acacia salicina Lindl planted in 1980 was studied at the age of 30 years in the elevation plain areas of Iran. Two station of this plantation in province were selected the sample plots and the diameter at breast height of all trees was measured. At least, there trees from each diameter class were randomly selected and cut and different parts of the trees including, trunks, branches and leaves were separately weighed. The main roots of one tree from each diameter class were also nine collected and weighed. To estimate the man weight of litter per hectare, 40 sample plots of one square meter were randomly chosen and the amount of litter was determined. The percent of organic carbon in leaves and litter was also calculated in the laboratory. The amount of carbon sequestrated in the soil of plantation area was calculated and compared with control. This study showed that the amount of carbon sequestrated by E.camaldulensis in the productive site and poor site was about 8.2 and 1.73 ton hayear , respectively. On the other hand , for Acacia salicina in the poor site of this figure was 2.1 ton/ha in year. The highest the amount of sequestrated carbon in E.camaldulensis was in 30 centimeter diameter class. This figure for Acacia was in 25 centimeter diameter class. The amount of carbon sequestrated in different parts of the tree showed a significant difference at 0.01 also in E.camaldulensis , there was a significant difference in the amount of carbon sequestration between the suitable and poor sites. This study showed that there is a great potential of plantations in Fars province and similar areas of the country. This plantation will maintain suitable green areas and belts and produce wood materials for consumption in several ways. Forever planting trees will lead to the reduction of co2 in atmosphere which reduces the greenhouse effect , a program which is university promoted and partially sponsored by united nations and some industrialized countries . [Seyed Armin Hashemi, Department of Forestry, Lahijan Branch ,Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran . Journal of American Science 2011;7(6):1124-1128]. (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience.org.