Comparing soil carbon reservation in Stipa barbata and Salsola rigida types in Akhtar Abad of Shahr-e- Yar

Climate change and increase of global warming is one of the most important challenges in sustainable development, which is due to increase of concentration of greenhouse gasses and CO2 in atmosphere. Rangelands have approximately half of the worlds land area and store over third of terrestrial biosphere carbon. Therefore they have a large potential to sequester carbon. In this order, considered the percent of carbon accumulation in two vegetation types (Stipa barbata and Salsola rigida) in Akhtar Abad of Shahre yar in Tehran province. Content and distribution of aboveground, underground biomass, litter and soil carbon was determined. Sampling of plant and soil performed using Random-systematic method and samples transported to laboratory. Soil samples were taken from depth of 0-30 in 15 profiles. Results showed that all of soil properties except to lime and P were significantly different in Stipa barbata and Salsola rigida types. Organic carbon amount in S.rigida soil (33.25 t/ha) was more than organic carbon in S. barbata soil (30.48 t/ha). Control soil organic carbon was smaller than both types (25.52 t/ha). Despite the mentioned amounts of soil carbon, there was no significant difference between S.barbata and S. rigida soils carbon storage. Also no significant difference was observed between control area soil and S. barbata soil carbon accumulation while carbon storage of control and S. salsola soils was significantly different.