Effect of forestation hardwood and softwood on soil carbon storage in Berenjestanak forest at Mazandaran Province

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of reforestation on physical and chemical soil properties particularly soil carbon storage in the Berenjastanak forest. Forestations were including Acer velotinum Boiss.، Fraxinus excelsior L.، Populus nigra L. and Pinus brutia Ten. A witness forest with mixed species was selected as region potential. Four soil profiles were drilled in each forestation types randomly and were gathered three soil samples from 0-10، 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil depth in each profile. Soil properties including bulk density، percent of saturated moisture، pH، nitrogen، absorbed potassium، calcium and magnesium، organic carbon and soil carbon storage. Two way analysis of variance was applied for investigation of effect forest type on soil properties and carbon storage. Since interaction habitat with soil depth were not significant about soil properties. Mean comparison of soil properties between five habitats and three depths were performed separately. Correlation between carbon storage and other soil properties were calculated in each habitat separately. Then regression models of carbon storage were determined with step by step method. Soil carbon storage had more correlation with nitrogen، (organic carbon and bulk density)، organic carbon، magnesium in the witness، Acer velotinum Boiss.، Fraxinus excelsior L.، Pinus brutia Ten.، and Populus nigra L. habitats respectively. The results show that habitat and soil depth had significant effect on carbon storage. Also first depth had most of carbon storage than two other depth but they have not significant different. Carbon storage was most in Acer velotinum Boiss.، habitat and low in Populus nigra L.، habitat