Effect of Land Uses on Aboveground Biomass and Carbon Pools in Zagros Forests, Iran

Aims Different types of land use have different effects on carbon stored in their pools and Co2 emissions. We compared carbon storage in different pools (tree, litter, and soil) across main land uses Mishkhas watershed in the northeast of Ilam province, Iran Materials & Methods Oak forest (Quercus brantii Lindl.; Lu-F) and orchard (Juglans regia L; Lu-O) in 4 different ages were determined for estimation of carbon stocks in tree biomass, the litter, and 20 cm depth of soils in two land uses. Findings The results showed that total carbon stocks in Lu-O ecosystem (68.75 Mg ha-1) was significantly higher than Lu-F (41.22 Mg ha-1). In general, soil at the two land uses was main carbon pool as estimated about 91% and (37.61 Mg ha-1) 82% (57.01Mg ha-1) of the total carbon stocks in Lu-F and Lu-O, respectively. The above ground biomass of trees was as second carbon pool and contained a lower contribution of total carbon stocks (roughly 6% and 15% in forest and orchard ecosystems). The least carbon storage i.e., about 2% of the total carbon stocks in Lu-F and Lu-O occurred in litter due to the grazing intensity. Conclusion As a conclusion, our findings confirm that land use type can significantly effect on carbon stocks in different pools. Therefore, management strategies are needed to enhance the forest carbon sequestration in Mishkhas watershed of Ilam province.