Volume 13, Issue 2 (10-2025)
Ecol Iran For 2025, 13(2): 102-115 |
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Hosseini A, Iranmanesh Y. (2025). Variation in Aboveground, Litter, and Soil Carbon Stock in Pure Standard and Standard-Coppice Persian Oak Stands
(Case Study: Dalab Forests of Ilam. Ecol Iran For. 13(2), 102-115. doi:10.61882/ifej.2025.523
URL: http://ifej.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-523-en.html
URL: http://ifej.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-523-en.html
1- Department of Natural Resources, Ilam agricultural and natural resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Ilam, Iran
2- Department of Natural Resources, Charmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shahrekord, Iran
2- Department of Natural Resources, Charmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shahrekord, Iran
Abstract: (838 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: Carbon sequestration in plant biomass and soils located under this biomass is the easiest way to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Forests play a special role in atmospheric carbon deposition due to the production of large amounts of biomass, and are of great interest in terms of carbon storage. During the past years, the forest habitats of Zagros have been severely destroyed from quantitative and qualitative aspects, which consequently have affected the key role of these ecosystems in controlling climate change. Evaluating quantitative changes in above-ground and soil carbon reserves in Zagros forests can show the importance and value of this vital ecosystem from economic and environmental aspects and be useful in sustainable management programs of forest resources. In the present research, the carbon stock was measured and monitored in permanent sample plots, which have not been examined in the west of Iran so far. This research is the beginning of long-term monitoring and climate change modeling, and the results can be used in the modeling of carbon deposition and global warming changes. In this regard, the present study aimed to determine changes in the carbon stock of aboveground biomass, litter, and soil in the standard and standard-coppice Persian oak stands in the Dalab forests of Ilam Province from 2019 to 2022.
Methods: Two Persian oak forest stands with standard and standard-and-coppice forms were first selected in this research. A permanent square sample plot of one hectare (dimensions 100 × 100 m) was selected and established randomly in each forest stand. Quantitative characteristics of all trees in the sample plots were measured to determine the status of each stand and to calculate the biomass and aboveground carbon stock of the stands. In each sample plot, five soil samples were also regularly taken from a depth of 0-30 cm in the square and center of the sample plot to measure carbon, moisture, apparent specific gravity, and soil gravel percentage. To estimate the carbon stock of the litter, 10 micro plots of 0.5 square meters were planted randomly in each plot, and two groups of fine and coarse litter were collected separately. Fine litter included all leaves, humus layers, and all small pieces of wood (< 1 cm in diameter), and coarse litter included large pieces of wood (> 1 cm in diameter). Quantitative characteristics of trees were measured in the first year of research, and soil and litter were sampled during 4 years of research. Two-way analysis of variance was used to investigate the changes in quantitative traits related to litter and soil under the influence of the sampling year and stand form (sample plot). The independent t-test was used to compare the average of litter biomass and carbon stock between two forest stands. Duncan's test was used to compare the average characteristics of litter and soil between the research years. Data were analyzed statistically in SPSS version 16.
Results: The stand density and canopy cover were higher in the pure standard stand (72 trees/ha) than in the standard-coppice stand (55 trees/ha). The amounts of aboveground biomass and carbon stock (29.93 tons/ha and 14.46 tons/ha, respectively) in the standard-coppice stand were less than in the pure standard stand (60.17 tons/ha and 29.78 tons/ha, respectively). The average biomass and carbon stock of fine litter in the standard-coppice stand were lower than those of the pure standard stand. The average biomass values of fine and coarse litter in the standard-coppice stanwere 4.95 and 1.52 tons per hectare, respectively. The average dry weights of fine and coarse litter in the pure standard stand were 6.24 and 1.32 tons per hectare, respectively. The average carbon stock volumes of fine and coarse litter in the standard-coppice stand were estimated at 2.77 and 0.83 tons per hectare, and in the pure standard stand as 3.81 and 0.72 tons per hectare, respectively. The organic carbon percentages of fine and coarse litter in the standard-coppice stand were 45.20 and 38.79%, and in pure standard stand were 44.02 and 39.34%, respectively. The average percentages of organic carbon and soil carbon stock were lower in the standard-coppice stand (respectively 2.01 and 70.11 tons per hectare) than in the pure standard stand (respectively 2.09 and 79.67 tons per hectare). The soil moisture in each stand had annual changes, and its amount was lower in the standard-coppice stand than in the standard stand. The soil carbon stock was significantly affected by the year, and its values showed a significant difference between the research years. However, the amount of fine litter carbon stock in the research years and the sample plots showed a significant difference, and the coarse litter carbon stock did not show significant changes. In both studied forest stands, the largest share of the stored carbon belonged to the soil, followed by the aboveground carbon stock.
Conclusion: The obtained results indicate that the carbon stock of Persian oak stands in different biological parts is influenced by the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of oak stands, and its variations differ in different years depending on the stand characteristics. The standard forest stands, therefore, which are less degraded than the standard-coppice stands, have better ecological performance, and this efficiency is shown in the higher amount of aboveground, litter, and soil carbon stock. The results of quantifying the amount of carbon stock in different biological parts of oak forests show that oak forests play a significant role in carbon storage, which is effective in controlling atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Background: Carbon sequestration in plant biomass and soils located under this biomass is the easiest way to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Forests play a special role in atmospheric carbon deposition due to the production of large amounts of biomass, and are of great interest in terms of carbon storage. During the past years, the forest habitats of Zagros have been severely destroyed from quantitative and qualitative aspects, which consequently have affected the key role of these ecosystems in controlling climate change. Evaluating quantitative changes in above-ground and soil carbon reserves in Zagros forests can show the importance and value of this vital ecosystem from economic and environmental aspects and be useful in sustainable management programs of forest resources. In the present research, the carbon stock was measured and monitored in permanent sample plots, which have not been examined in the west of Iran so far. This research is the beginning of long-term monitoring and climate change modeling, and the results can be used in the modeling of carbon deposition and global warming changes. In this regard, the present study aimed to determine changes in the carbon stock of aboveground biomass, litter, and soil in the standard and standard-coppice Persian oak stands in the Dalab forests of Ilam Province from 2019 to 2022.
Methods: Two Persian oak forest stands with standard and standard-and-coppice forms were first selected in this research. A permanent square sample plot of one hectare (dimensions 100 × 100 m) was selected and established randomly in each forest stand. Quantitative characteristics of all trees in the sample plots were measured to determine the status of each stand and to calculate the biomass and aboveground carbon stock of the stands. In each sample plot, five soil samples were also regularly taken from a depth of 0-30 cm in the square and center of the sample plot to measure carbon, moisture, apparent specific gravity, and soil gravel percentage. To estimate the carbon stock of the litter, 10 micro plots of 0.5 square meters were planted randomly in each plot, and two groups of fine and coarse litter were collected separately. Fine litter included all leaves, humus layers, and all small pieces of wood (< 1 cm in diameter), and coarse litter included large pieces of wood (> 1 cm in diameter). Quantitative characteristics of trees were measured in the first year of research, and soil and litter were sampled during 4 years of research. Two-way analysis of variance was used to investigate the changes in quantitative traits related to litter and soil under the influence of the sampling year and stand form (sample plot). The independent t-test was used to compare the average of litter biomass and carbon stock between two forest stands. Duncan's test was used to compare the average characteristics of litter and soil between the research years. Data were analyzed statistically in SPSS version 16.
Results: The stand density and canopy cover were higher in the pure standard stand (72 trees/ha) than in the standard-coppice stand (55 trees/ha). The amounts of aboveground biomass and carbon stock (29.93 tons/ha and 14.46 tons/ha, respectively) in the standard-coppice stand were less than in the pure standard stand (60.17 tons/ha and 29.78 tons/ha, respectively). The average biomass and carbon stock of fine litter in the standard-coppice stand were lower than those of the pure standard stand. The average biomass values of fine and coarse litter in the standard-coppice stanwere 4.95 and 1.52 tons per hectare, respectively. The average dry weights of fine and coarse litter in the pure standard stand were 6.24 and 1.32 tons per hectare, respectively. The average carbon stock volumes of fine and coarse litter in the standard-coppice stand were estimated at 2.77 and 0.83 tons per hectare, and in the pure standard stand as 3.81 and 0.72 tons per hectare, respectively. The organic carbon percentages of fine and coarse litter in the standard-coppice stand were 45.20 and 38.79%, and in pure standard stand were 44.02 and 39.34%, respectively. The average percentages of organic carbon and soil carbon stock were lower in the standard-coppice stand (respectively 2.01 and 70.11 tons per hectare) than in the pure standard stand (respectively 2.09 and 79.67 tons per hectare). The soil moisture in each stand had annual changes, and its amount was lower in the standard-coppice stand than in the standard stand. The soil carbon stock was significantly affected by the year, and its values showed a significant difference between the research years. However, the amount of fine litter carbon stock in the research years and the sample plots showed a significant difference, and the coarse litter carbon stock did not show significant changes. In both studied forest stands, the largest share of the stored carbon belonged to the soil, followed by the aboveground carbon stock.
Conclusion: The obtained results indicate that the carbon stock of Persian oak stands in different biological parts is influenced by the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of oak stands, and its variations differ in different years depending on the stand characteristics. The standard forest stands, therefore, which are less degraded than the standard-coppice stands, have better ecological performance, and this efficiency is shown in the higher amount of aboveground, litter, and soil carbon stock. The results of quantifying the amount of carbon stock in different biological parts of oak forests show that oak forests play a significant role in carbon storage, which is effective in controlling atmospheric carbon dioxide.
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