Investigation the Effect of Dead Trees on the Trend of Changes in Soil Carbon Storage Across an Altitudinal Gradient of Western Quercus Forests (Case study: Qalajeh Forest)

dead trees are one of the carbon pools in terrestrial ecosystems, which are one of the most important building components in forest areas. Measuring the amount of carbon storage in forest soil can be an important criterion and indicator in measuring the sustainability of an ecosystem. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dead trees on changes in soil carbon storage across an Altitudinal gradient of Qalajeh forest in Kermanshah province.

For this purpose, an area of Qalajeh forest with an altitude range of 1400-2100 meters above sea level was selected, the area was divided into seven altitudes classes with a difference of 100 meters. Then, at the level of each elevation class, one-hectare sample plots were implemented with three replications in order to estimate the amount of soil carbon storage in the areas containing the mentioned standing and fallen dead trees. In each sample plot, under the standing and fallen dead trees, healthy tree base and in the area without of tree cover (open space), each soil sample was taken from a depth of 0-20 cm.

The results showed that the amount of soil carbon storage in the dead trees areas (standing and fallen) was higher than the soil under healthy tree foundations as well as in the open area, and in general with increasing altitude soil carbon storage increased from sea level. So that the lowest amount of carbon storage (124 tons per hectare) was located in the altitude class of 1400-1500 and the highest (197 tons per hectare) was located in the altitude class of 2000-2100. Also, the results of correlation test showed that there is a significant positive correlation between the amount of soil carbon storage under the standing and fallen dead trees with altitude.

According to the results of this study, it can be said that in addition to their ecological functions, dead trees has an important role in soil carbon storage. Therefore, considering the importance and role of dead trees in relation to the amount of carbon storage and the process of its transfer to the soil layers, the process of harvesting and removal of these pools in these forests must be stopped and measures taken to This should also be considered.