Estimating the amount of carbon storage in biomass of different land uses in Northern Zagros Forest

Large ecosystems such as forests with large amounts of biomass play important roles in carbon sequestration, mitigation of CO2 emissions and human life. The present study aimed at estimating the amount of carbon storage in four land use systems (intact, protected, exploited and garden) in northern Zagros forests, western Azarbaijan province. Within each land use in the same unit, 30 sample plots were established and some quantitative characteristics, such as diameter of all trees with DBH > 10 cm were measured. Total height of largest DBH, tree closest to the center of the plot, diameter of crown along two perpendicular directions and the thickest closest tree in each plot were also measured. The litter samples were taken based on direct sampling in 0.5*0.5 m sample plots at the center and four corners of the plot. The results showed the total biomass in intact, protected, exploited and garden land uses were 450.12, 54.95, 12.85, and 5.38 tons per hectare, respectively. The amount of carbon stored in the land uses were 258.15, 35.52, 9.49 and 3.48 tons per hectare in in intact, protected, exploited and garden land uses, respectively. The results of Duncan test also showed there are significant differences in biomass and carbon storage among different land uses.