Investigation of carbon sequestration in dominant plant and soil in two regions under livestock and wildlife grazing in Artemisia plain of Mehriz in Yazd Province

According to extent of rangelands and their role in capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, the present research has been investigated. Carbon sequestration between two regions under livestock and wildlife grazing in the plain areas of Mehriz in Yazd province. For this purpose, in order to determine the level of steppe desert vegetation in two wildlife and livestock grazing sites, sampling of this dominant plant and soil in each of these areas was done in a systematic random way. Sampling of 30 dominant species was done in simple steppe and after cutting the aerial organs (leaves and stems) and roots, they were weighed. Along with plant sampling in each plot, soil samples were collected to the depth of 50cm   near the plants. In laboratory, the organic carbon percentage of plant and soil samples was determined Data analysis was done in SPSS software. The results showed that aerial biomass carbon sequestration in both wildlife (7.56 kg/ha) and livestock (6.90 kg/ha) sites had a significant increase compared to underground biomass and stem had the highest amount (p<0.01). The amounts of root carbon storage in wildlife and livestock sites were obtained as 3.61 kg/ha and 3.47 kg/ha, respectively. Also, the amounts of carbon sequestration of plant organs in the area under livestock grazing was lower than that of wildlife. In wildlife site, the amounts of carbon storage in aerial, underground and total plant biomass were 7.56 kg/ha, 3.61 kg/ha and 11.17 kg/ha, respectively, while in livestock site was 6.91 kg/ha, 3.47 kg/ha and10.37 kg/ha. About the soil, also a significant decrease in the amount of carbon sequestered in livestock site (6.76 tons/ha)) was observed compared to wildlife site (10.33 tons/ha). So, Therefore, unprincipled and excessive livestock grazing can be introduced as an important factor in reducing carbon sequestration in the region.