Phytomass and carbon storage in theStipa tenacissimasteppes of the Baza basin, Andalusia, Spain

Above-ground perennial phytomass of Andalusian alfa grass steppes (7755•6 ± 1482 kg of dry matter ha−1(95% C.I.)) is clearly higher than phytomass density measured today in most alfa grass communities of the Maghreb because of low or inexistant present-day human-induced alterations and relatively favourable annual precipitation (370 mm) existing in these Spanish steppes. Total carbon storage measured in these steppes (43,372 kg ha−1) constitutes a very high mean value linked to the fact that the bulk (43,000 kg ha−1or 93%) of the carbon storage in the Spanish steppic areas consists of underground carbon. These values allow for precise available estimations concerning carbon storage in these steppelands.