Comparison and study the carbon sequestration potential of watershed mangement mechanical operation, water harvesting and furrow construction in different climatic regions of Iran

Global warming caused by emissions of carbon gases into the atmosphere is a serious threat to sustainable development in developing countries Such as Iran. Carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystem is a sustainable approach, with no environmental risks. This research was conducted to evaluate watershed management mechanical operations including water harvesting, terracing, sediment trapping dams, banquette and furrow in different regions of the country (nine provinces) in atmospheric carbon sequestration and to offer optimal options for these regions. For this purpose, field operations were done for soil, biomass and litter sampling, using systematic randomized method in representative sites and control sites. According to research results, regions in the hillsides of the Zagros mountains including Lorestan, Fars, Kermanshah and Kurdestan showed the maximum carbon sequestration potential in about 54 to 112 ton carbon per hectare. In Hirkani regions in Mazandaran province, water harvesting system operation sequestered about 18 ton carbons per hectare. Watershed management operation in center and west part of country with Iranotorani cover type cannot affect in soil organic carbon stock and rangeland biomass, significantly. In study areas, indigenous terracing and water harvesting systems have higher efficiency in carbon sequestration, respectively and different sediment trapping dams did not show significant effect in this case.