Evaluation role of rangeland rehabitation through planting Eexotic species on soil carbon sequestration (Case Study: Chaparghoymeh Rangelands of Gonbad)

Carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems has been posed as one of the most effective and cheapest ways in combating with increasing atmospheric Co2 concentration and global warming. In these lands, rangeland rehabitation through planting new species affects carbon sequestration potential, but various species have different effects on carbon sequestration. This study was conducted to assess the role of planting Agropyron elongatom and Atriplex lentiformis in soil carbon sequestration and detecting successful species in soil carbon sequestration in Chapar ghoymeh rangelands of Golestan province. Thus laboratory measurements of reserved organic carbon were conducted in two soil depths of beneath and between plants bunch (micro sites) at triploid sites (Atriplex, Agropyron and control site). Results of comparing carbon amounts showed that rehabitation of these rangelands with Atriplex lentiformis and Agropyron elongatom could increase sequestrated carbon about 21.974 and 12.872 ton per hectare respectively. Land plowing in Agropyron site during planting season, has caused that lower carbon can be preserved in recent site rather other one. Also in micro sites of Atriplex lentiformis second soil depth, expanding of long roots has reserved high carbon in this micro site comparing to Agropyron elongatom second soil depth. In general, amount of carbon has indirect relation with depth and the first depth is important depth due to falling litter on it and consequently reserving more carbon. Carbon of micro sites soils at the shrubs beneath and between shrubs in Atriplex site, have significant difference, but in relevance with Agropyron micro sites there is no significant difference due to proximity of shrubs to each other. Overall results point out that Atriplex lentiformis was successful species due to its high biomass and non-tillage of land and it is necessary to protect soil, especially first depth, in Agropyron site to maintenance high value of carbon.