Carbon Sequestration and Estimation of its Economic Value in Selected Pastures of Khuzestan under Grazing and Grazing Exclusion

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Alireza Owji
• Ahmad Landi
• Saeed Hojati

Shahid Chamran Univ. of Ahvaz

https://doi.org/10.22067/jsw.v32i2.69326

Abstract

Introduction: Soil is a key resource that contributes to the earth system functioning as a control and manages the cycles of water, biota and geochemical and as an important carbon reservoir. Soil organic matter is one of the most important factors in soil quality assessment and having relationship with physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Carbon sequestration in plant biomass and soils is the simplest and the most economically practical solution to reduce the risks of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Little information is available about the effects of grazing management on sequestration of carbon in Khuzestan Province pastures. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of grazing exclusion on the amount and forms of carbon management and carbon sequestration with economic view in some pasture soils from Peneti Plain of Izeh area and Dimeh regions of Ramhormoz in Khuzestan Province.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in two regions including Izeh and Ramhormoz representing different climates, vegetation and soil types of southwestern Iran. We selected two grazing treatments including ungrazed and grazed pastures in each region. The first area includes rangeland ecosystem in Izeh city between 31° 57ʹ 8ʺ to 31° 58ʹ 20ʺ N and 49° 41ʹ 11ʺ to 49° 42ʹ 33ʺ E. The region has a typical temperate continental climate, characterized by dry summers and cold winters. The mean annual rainfall is 623mm. The mean annual temperature (MAT) is 19.2 °C, and the mean monthly air temperature varies from -0.6 °C in January to 42.4 °C in July. The second area (Ramhormoz) is located between 31° 7ʹ 44ʺ to 31° 9ʹ 11ʺ N and 49° 29ʹ 13ʺ to 49° 28ʹ 52ʺ E. The mean annual rainfall is 200 mm and the mean annual temperature (MAT) is 27.2 °C, and the mean monthly air temperature varies from 4.2 °C in January to 51.6 °C in July. For each climate region, grazed and ungrazed sites were located on the same soil series with similar aspect and slope. Then, random soil samples were taken from the surface and subsurface in 15 points. After air drying the soil samples and passing them through a 2 mm sieve, physical, chemical properties of the soils were measured.
Results and Discussion: The soil of both studied regions are non-saline, calcareous, and alkaline and have relatively heavy texture. The results showed that the studied characteristics in four study areas had low and moderate coefficients of variation. This suggests that the contribution of edaphic and environmental factors to explain variation in the data is not high. Also, grazing management has increased soil organic matter of surface and subsurface soil, but despite the increase in organic matter contents of subsurface soils the difference was not statistically significant. The effect of management practices, in order to have a significant effect to lower parts of the soil, it requires a longer period management. Comparing the biomass upon non-grazing (405 and 42 gm-2 in Izeh and Ramhormoz respectively) and grazed (117 and 17 gm-2) areas, indicates a good condition of vegetation in the non-grazing and the effectiveness of enclosure in rehabilitation of pastures in the study area. However, due to more rainfall rates, the amount of biomass produced in Izeh is higher.
Conclusion: The carbon management index in the study areas, as well as the depths of the study is high, indicating recovery of soil carbon and improving its quality. Also, based on carbon sequestration in the study area, non-grazing was one of the most proper and efficient management practices, which improved soil quality. Accordingly, it seems that non-grazing practices should be considered as one of the major programs in renewable natural resources plans. On the other hand, estimation of the economic value of carbon sequestration in the pastures has been remarkable, and increased 17 and 12.7% of the value of carbon sequestration in Izeh and Ramhormoz regions under the management of the exclusion. Therefore, the management of rangelands should be directed to allow for their ecologic performance and capacity considering the environmental economy of rangelands so that in broad terms, the justification for the enhancement and maintenance of the economic equilibrium can be viewed as a guaranty of implementing the range managements resulting in sustained development.

Keywords

• Carbon management index
• Carbon sequestration
• Economical
• Grazing exclusion
• Pasture

20.1001.1.20084757.1397.32.2.11.7

References

1- Alizadeh M., Mahdavi M., Jouri M.H., Mahdavi S.K., and Malekpour B. 2011. Estimation of soil carbon sequestration in steppic rangelands (Case study: steppe rangeland Rudshur, Saveh). Rangeland. Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 163-170. (In Persian)

2- An H., and Li G.Q. 2015. Effects of grazing on carbon and nitrogen in plants and soils in a semiarid desert grassland, China. Journal of Arid Land. 7: 3. 341-349.

3- Anonymous. 2012. Agricultural statistics of Khuzestan Province. Forest, Range and Watershed Organization of Khuzestan Province.

4- Anonymous. 2015. Yearbook of meteorological status of Khuzestan Province. Iranian Meteorological Organization, Research Division of Khuzestan Province.

5- Banaii M.H. 1998. Soil Moisture and Temperature Regimes Map. Soil and Water Research Institute of Iran. Tehran. (In Persian)

6- Benbi D.K., Brar K., Toor A.S., and Singh P. 2015. Total and labile pools of soil organic carbon in cultivated and undisturbed soils in northern India. Geoderma. 237: 149-158.

7- Blair G.J., Lefroy R.D.B., and Lisle L. 1995. Soil carbon fractions based on their degree of oxidation, and the development of a carbon management index for agricultural systems. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research. 46: 1459-1466.

8- Brevik E.C., Cerda A., Mataix-Solera J., Pereg L., Quinton J.N., Six J., and Van Oost K. 2015. The interdisciplinary nature of soil. Soil Journal. 1: 117–129.

9- Cannell G.R. 2003. Carbon sequestration and biomass energy offset theoretical, potential and achievable capacities globally in Europe and UK. Biomass and Bioenergy. 24: 97-116.

10- Cao G.M., Tang Y.H., Mo W.H., Wang Y.A., Li Y.N., and Zhao X.Q. 2004. Grazing intensity alters soil respiration in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 36: 237-243.

11- Cao Y.Z., Wang X.D., Lu X.Y., Yan Y., and Fan J.H. 2013. Soil organic carbon and nutrients along an alpine grassland transect across Northern Tibet. Journal of Mountain Science. 10: 564-573.

12- Chapman H.D. 1965. Cation-exchange capacity. P 891-901, In: C.A. Black (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis - hemical and microbiological properties. Agronomy.

13- Chen J., and Tang H. 2016. Effect of grazing exclusion on vegetation characteristics and soil organic carbon of leymus chinensis grassland in northern China. Sustainability. 8:56. doi:10.3390/su8010056.

14- Costa C., Papatheodorou E.M., Monokrousos N., and Stamou G.P. 2015. Spatial variability of soil organic C, inorganic N and extractable P in a mediterranean grazed area. Land Degradation and Development. 26: 103-109.

15- Culman S.W., Snapp S.S., Freeman M.A., Schipanski M.E., Beniston J., Lal R., Drinkwater L.E., Franzluebbers A.J., Glover J.D., Grandy A.S., Lee J., Six J., Maul J.E., Mirksy S.B., Spargo J.T., and Wander M.M. 2012. Permanganate oxidizable carbon reflects a processed soil fraction that is sensitive to management. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 76: 494-504.

16- Dai E.F., Zhai R.X., Ge Q.S., and Wu X. 2014. Detecting the storage and change on topsoil organic carbon in grasslands of Inner Mongolia from 1980s to 2010s. Acta Geographica Sinica. 24: 6. 1035-1046.

17- Dashtipour Kh. 1992. Range management plan in Dimeh area of Ramhormoz city. Department of Natural Resources Khuzestan province. (In Persian)

18- Davoudpour R., Mirtalbi A., and Abdi N.A. 2011. Comparison of soil organic carbon in different land use of cultivated and rangeland (Case Study: Hossein Abad of Arak). Proceedings of the National Conference of Desert Combat Desertification and Sustainable Development of Wetlands. pp 706-709.

19- Eskandari N., Alizadeh A., and Mahdavi F. 2008. Policies of range management in Iran (Rangeland Technical Office). Pooneh Press.

20- Feller C., and Bernoux M. 2008. Historical advances in the study of global terrestrial soil organic carbon sequestration. Waste Management. 28(4):734-740.

21- Gass T.M., and Binkley D. 2011. Soil nutrient losses in an altered ecosystem are associated with native ungulate grazing. Journal of Applied Ecology. 48: 952-960.

22- Gee G.W., and Bauder J.W. 1986. Particle size analysis. P 383-411, In: A. Klute (Ed.), Methods of soil analysis, Part 1. American Society of Agronomy. Inc. Madison, WI, USA.

23- Gobat Y.M., Aragno M., and Matthey W. 2003. Lesol vivant: base de la pedologie-biologie des sols. Edition press polytechniques et universitaire Romanoles (PPUR).

24- Gregorich E.G., Beare M.H., McKim U.F., and Skjemstad J.O. 2006. Chemical and biological characteristics of physically uncomplexed organic matter. Soil Science Society American Journal. 70: 975-985.

25- Haynes R.J. 2005. Labile organic matter fractions as central components of the quality of agricultural soils: An overview. Advances in Agronomy. 85: 221-268.

26- Heidarian Aghakhani M., Naghipour Borj A.A., and Nasri M. 2010. The effect of grazing on vegetation and soil chemical properties Sisab rangelands, Bojnord, Iran. Quarterly Renewable Natural Resources Research. First year, Second Issue. 14-27. (In Persian)

27- Lal R. 2004. Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change. Geoderma, 123: 1-22.

28- Lu X., Yan Y., Sun J., Zhang X., Chen Y., Wang X., and Cheng G. 2015. Short-term grazing exclusion has no impact on soil properties and nutrients of degraded alpine grassland in Tibet, China. Solid Earth. 6: 1195-1205.

29- Luciuk G.M., Boonneau M.A., Boyle D.M., and Vibery E. 2000. Prairie farm rehabilitation. Administration paper, carbon sequestration additional environmental, benefits of forests in the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, 22: 191-194.

30- Mahdavi M., Arzani H., Mesdaghi M., Mahdavi K.H., Mahmodi M., and Alizadeh M. 2011. Estimation of Soil Carbon Sequestration Rate in Steppes (Case Study: Saveh Rudshur Steppes). Journal of Rangeland Science. 1(3): 175-182.

31- Mirsky S.B., Lanyon L.E., and Needelman B.A. 2008. Evaluating soil management using particulate and chemically labile soil organic matter fractions. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 72: 1. 180-185.

32- Mofidi M., Jafari M., Tavili A., Rashtbari M., and Alijanpour A. 2013. Grazing exclusion effect on soil and vegetation properties in Imam Kandi Rangelands, Iran. Arid Land Research and Management. 27: 32-40.

33- Mohammadi H., and Tahmasebi H. 2000. Range management plan in Penty area of Ize city. Department of Natural Resources Khuzestan province. (In Persian)

34- Noel D., and Bloodworth H. 2000. Global climate change and effect of conservation practices in US Agriculture. Global of Environmental Change. 10(6): 197-209.

35- Pandey D.N. 2002. Global climate change and carbon management in multifunctional forest. Current Science. 83: 593-602.

36- Paulino V.T., Teixeira E.M.C., Lucena M.A.C., Miguel A.N.V., and Duarte K.M.R. 2016. Impact of Agricultural Management on Quality of Soil, Carbon Storage and Carbon Stratification. International Journal of Environmental and Agriculture Research, 2: 2454-1850.

37- Rhoades J.D. 1996. Salinity: Electrical conductivity and total dissolved soils. P 417-435, In D.L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3: Chemical Methods, SSSA Book Series Number 5. Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI.

38- Raiesi F., and Asadi E. 2006. Soil microbial activity and litter turnover in native grazed and ungrazed rangelands in a semiarid ecosystem. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 43: 76-82.

39- Raiesi F., and Riahi M. 2014. The influence of grazing exclosure on soil C stocks and dynamics, and ecological indicators in upland arid and semi-arid rangelands. Ecological Indicators. 41: 145-154.

40- Rui X., and Xiuqin W. 2016. Effects of grazing intensity on soil organic carbon of rangelands in Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Geographical Sciences. 26: 11. 1550-1560.

41- Shahriari Geraei D., Hojati S., Landi A., and Faz Cano A. 2016. Total and labile forms of soil organic carbon as affected by land use change in southwestern Iran. Geoderma. Reg. 7: 29-37.

42- Steffens M., Kolbl A., and Knabner I.K. 2009. Alteration of soil organic matter pools and aggregation in semi-arid steppe topsoils as driven by organic matter input. European Journal of Soil Science. 60: 198-212.

43- Strosser E. 2010. Methods for determination of labile soil organic matter: An overview. Journal of Agrobiology. 27(2): 49-60.

44- Su Y.Z., Zhao H.L., Zhang T.H., and Zhao X.Y. 2004. Soil properties following cultivation and non-greazing of semi-arid sandy grassland in northern china. Soil and Tillage Research. 75: 27-36.

45- Tamartash R., Hasannejad M., and Tatian M. 2014. Evaluation of Thymus serpyllum L. Medicinal Plant role in carbon sequestration of Hezar Jarib alpine pastures. Eco-phetochemical Journal of Medicinal plants. Vol. 6, No. 2, pp:48-55. (In Persian)

46- Tarhouni M., Ben Hmida W., and Neffati M. 2015. Long-term changes in plant life forms as a consequence of grazing exclusion under arid climatic conditions. Land Degradation and Development. 20: 214-216.

47- Thomas G.W. 1996. Soil pH and soil acidity. P 475-490, In: D.L. Sparks (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3: Chemical Methods., SSSA Book Series Number 5, Soil Science Society of America. Madison, WI.

48- Thompson T.L., Zaady E., Huancheng P., Wilson T.B., and Martens D.A. 2006. Soil C and N pools in patchy shrublands of the Negev and Chihuahuan Deserts. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 38: 1943-1955.

49- Vieira F.C.B., Bayer C., Zanatta J.A., Mielniczuk J., He Z.L., and Dieckow J. 2007. Carbon management index based on physical fractionation of soil organic matter in an Acrisol under long-term no-till cropping systems. Soil and Tillage Research, 96: 195-204.

50- Walkley A., and Black I.A. 1934. An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science. 63: 251-263.

51- Wei J.B., Xiao D.N., Zeng H., and Fu Y.K. 2008. Spatial variability of soil properties in relation to land use and topography in a typical small watershed of the black soil region, northeastern China. Environmental Geology. 53: 1663-1672.

52- Wong V.N., Greene R.S., Murphy B.W., Dalal R., Mann S., and Farquhar G. 2006. The effects of salinity and sodicity on soil organic carbon stocks and fluxes: an overview. Regolith Consolidation and Dispersion of Ideas, 7: 367-371.

53- Xu M., Lou Y., Sun X., Wang W., Baniyamuddin M., and Zhao K. 2011. Soil organic carbon active fractions as early indicators for total carbon change under straw incorporation. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 47: 745-752.

54- Yang X., Ren W., Sun B., and Zhang S. 2012. Effects of contrasting soil management regimes on total and labile soil organic carbon fractions in a loess soil in China. Geoderma, 177: 49-56.

55- Zhang J., Xu M., and Wu F. 2015. Difference analysis of different land use types on soil organic carbon in loess Gullied-Hilly region of China. Advance Journal of Food Science and Technology. 7(4): 274-280.