Investigation of Carbon Sequestration Potential in Four Species Including Atriplex canescens, Haloxylon persicum, Artemisia sieberi and Agropyron desertorum (Case Study: Zarandieh, Saveh, Iran)

Climate changes and global warming are considered as very important challenges of sustainable development. Carbon sequestration is the easiest and cheapest way to reduce the greenhouse gases, especially carbon which constitutes the largest portion of them. In the present study, the potential of carbon sequestration in four plant species of Atriplex canescens, Haloxylon persicum, Artemisia sieberi and Agropyron desertorum was studied in the rangeland of Zarandieh, Saveh, Iran. Key areas and study sites were selected and size and number of plots were determined using the minimal area method. Then, aerial and underground organs were cut and litter of species was collected from the soil surface. Also, the soil samples were taken from two depths of 0-30 and 30-70 cm in the same plots. Samples were moved to laboratory and the rates of plant organic carbon and soil organic carbon were determined using combustion and Walky-Black methods, respectively. Data were analyzed and means comparison was made using Duncan method in SPSS software. Results showed that the rates of carbon sequestration in different species, vegetation organs and soil layers were different and increased in wooding species. Also, the rate of soil carbon sequestration in the upper depth was more than the lower one; thus, carbon storage in soil near short trees (Atriplex canescens, Haloxylon persicum) was higher than that near shrubs (Artemisia sieberi) and herbaceous form (Agropyron desertorum).