Evaluation of Carbon sequestration in pure and mixed plantations of <i>Cupressus arizonica</i>

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of tree mixture on Carbon sequestration in cupressus arizonica plantations. Emission of carbon dioxide via human activities is known as the main cause of global warming. Therefore, in this study, soil carbon sequestration in mixed and pure stands was measured in order to compare the effect of tree mixture on the amount of carbon stored in the top mineral soil layer. The study site was Khargosh Valley Forest Park, located in Tehran province. This study included 4 different type of stands, the pure Cupressus arizonica, the pure Pinus eldarica, the mixed Cupressus arizonica and Pinus eldarica and the mixed Cupressus arizonica with deciduous hardwoods. Sampling method was done with a Systematic random network with dimensions 75 × 75 m. Samples parts were Square with dimensions of 20 x 20 m. At each plot center, forest floor was sampled from the first 10 cm of soil. To analyze the data one way analyses of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS v.20 was used to assess the Soil parameters. Tukey’s tests were used to test significant effects (p ≤ 0.05). Our results showed that the mean Carbon sequestration in the mixed plantations of Cupressus arizonica with deciduous hardwoods trees soils was greater than the other stands which in the standing mixed Cupressus arizonica and Pinus eldarica was lower than the pure stands. Our results Recommended for establishment ofconifer plantation, used mixed culture of Conifers with broadleaf Instead of pure cultures conifers.

Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Cupressus arizonica, Iran, mixed, Plantations, pure