Evaluation of the carbon sequestration of halophyte species and soil of saline habitats (Case study - Hoz Sultan lake)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant professor of Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Qom Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Qom, Iran.

2 Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Qom Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Qom, Iran

3 Research Associate Professor, Rangeland Research Department, Forestry and Rangeland Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran. Iran

4 Assistant professor of Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Qom Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Qom, Iran

Abstract

Investigating the carbon sequestration of plants in saline areas is considered necessary because the adverse effects of climate change in these areas are twofold. The purpose of this research is to investigate and compare the carbon sequestration capacity of aerial and underground organs of four brackish species (Halocnemum strobilaceum), Oshnan (Seidlitzia rosmarinus), salt spike (Halostachys caspica) and Tamarix ramosissima and the non-saline species of the desert (Artemisia sieberi) and the comparison of the amount of carbon It was stored in the soil of saline and non-saline vegetation in the pastures around the salt bed of Hoz Sultan Qom. At the time of maximum plant growth, 10 samples were taken from aerial, underground and soil under the bushes and between the said bushes. The amount of organic carbon in the root and shoot samples, as well as the amount of organic carbon, electrical conductivity, acidity, texture and specific gravity of the soil samples were determined. The significance test of the amount of sequestered carbon in plant organs (aerial and underground) and soil was done using analysis and analysis of variance and comparison of means by Duncan's method. The results of the variance analysis of the studied traits showed that the aerial organs of four resistant species and one non-resistant species are capable of storing and sequestering carbon, and the amount of carbon in the aerial organs of the five investigated species has a significant difference at level 5% So that in Gaz species had the highest amount of carbon in the aerial parts. In 4 types of sharroi, the amount of organic carbon in the roots was lower than in the tops. In other words, carbon storage in aerial biomass was more than underground biomass. The average percentage of carbon stored in the stem and root of bare tag was 74.3%, Oshnan 80.6%, Salt spike 77.8%, Gaz 85.8%, and Plain sedge 86%. Therefore, the plains and Gaz species had the highest amount of carbon storage per volume unit. Also, the average amount of carbon in the soil of under the bushes was determined to be 0.75%, Oshnan 0.82%, Salt spike 0.85%, Gaz 1.47%, and Plain sedge 0.47%. The amount of carbon sequestered in the soil under the gas bush was the highest with 52.5 tons per hectare and the salt spike with 29.9 tons per hectare was the lowest. The amount of carbon measured in the soil at the foot of the gooseberry bush was higher than other brackish species. It seems that one of the important reasons for this difference is the higher amount of wood texture and leaf produced by Goose compared to other saltwater species. Compared to other investigated halophyte species, the gooseberry plant is able to absorb and sequester more carbon in the atmosphere. On the other hand, due to the high volume of aerial biomass and fodder production, as well as the shrub-like vegetative form, this species can be considered as a suitable plant species for pasture improvement projects and for carbon storage in saline lands.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Introduction:

The lack of accurate knowledge of the potential and functions of different halophytes is considered as the most important challenge in the revival of saline land. On the other hand, it seems necessary to investigate the carbon sequestration of plants in these regions due to the fact that the adverse effects of climate change in these regions are twofold. In order to investigate and compare the carbon sequestration capacity, the species of Halocnemum strobilaceum, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Halostachys caspica and Tamarix ramosissima were selected as halophytes and Artemisia sieberi as glycophytes in Hoz Sultan Qom.

Objective(s):

The present research was carried out in order to investigate and compare the carbon sequestration capacity of aerial and underground organs of 4 halophytes and one glycophytes species and to compare the amount of carbon stored in the saline and non-saline habitat in the rangelands around the Hz Sultan of Qom

Material and Methods:

After selecting the site and preparing the floristic list, 10 samples were taken from the aerial, underground organs and soil under the bushes and between the bushes at the time of maximum growth of the plants. The samples were transferred to the laboratory and it was done to determine the amount of organic carbon from the root and branch samples and to determine the amount of organic carbon, electrical conductivity, acidity, texture and specific gravity of the soil samples. The significance test of the amount of sequestered carbon in plant organs (aerial and underground) and soil was done using analysis of variance and comparison of means by Duncan's method.

Results:

Tamarix ramosissima species had the highest amount of carbon available in the aerial parts. In 4 halophyte species, the amount of organic carbon in the roots was lower than in the aerial organs. In other words, carbon storage in aerial biomass was more than underground biomass. The average percentage of carbon stored in the stem and root of Halocnemum strobilaceum was 74.3%, Seidlitzia rosmarinus 80.6%, Halostachys caspica 77.8%, Tamarix ramosissima 85.8%, and Artemisia sieberi 86.1%. Therefore, Artemisia sieberi  and Tamarix ramosissima had the highest amount of carbon storage per volume unit. Also, the average amount of carbon in the soil of Halocnemum strobilaceum 0.75%, Seidlitzia rosmarinus 0.82%, Halostachys caspica 0.85%, Tamarix ramosissima 1.47% and Artemisia sieberi 0.47% was determined.The amount of sequestered carbon in the soil under the Tamarix ramosissima bush was the highest with 52.5 tons per hectare and the Halostachys caspica with 29.9 tons per hectare was the least sequestered. The amount of carbon measured in the soil at the foot of the Tamarix ramosissima was higher than that of other  halophyte species. It seems that one of the important reasons for this difference is the greater amount of wood textures and also the leaf produced by Tamarix ramosissima compared to other halophyte species.

Conclusions:

Tamarix ramosissima compared to other investigated halophyte species,  is able to absorb more carbon from the atmosphere. On the other hand, due to the high volume of aerial biomass and forage production, as well as the shrub growth form,Tamarix ramosissima can be considered as a suitable plant for rangeland improvement projects and carbon sequestration in saline lands.

Author Contributions

Seyed Mehdi Adnani conceived of the presented idea, developed the theory and performed the computations and carried out the experiment. Abbas Pourmeidani verified analytical methods and performed the computations. Ehsan Zandi Performed analytical chemistry experiments. Hossein Tavakoli Neko investigated and supervised the findings of this work. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript, but Abbas Pourmeidani wrote the final version of manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. All authors contributed according their name place to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Data Availability Statement

Raw data were generated at Forestry and Rangeland Research Institute (RIFR). Derived data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [Seyed Mehdi Adnani] on request after the permission of the RIFR.

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Forestry and Rangeland Research Institute. The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 56, Issue 4
July 2025
Pages 983-994

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