Comparative analysis of leaf area index and carbon stocks in litter and soil of Prunus arabica (Olive) and Prunus elaeagnifolia (Spach) in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran.

2 Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center (AREEO), Isfahan, Iran.

3 Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center

10.22059/jfwp.2025.387003.1319

Abstract

Evaluating carbon stocks in the litter and soil of Zagros forests, recognized as vital carbon reservoirs in Iran, is essential for understanding the carbon cycle. This study examines the Leaf Area Index (LAI), litter, and soil carbon stocks of Prunus arabica and Prunus elaeagnifolia in the Kareh-Bas forest region of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. A total of 30 shrubs, 15 from each species, were selected. LAI was quantified by weighing leaves, while litter samples collected from beneath each tree were weighed and transported to the laboratory. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was assessed using the Walkley-Black method, with samples taken from beneath and outside the canopy at three depths. Results indicated that LAI was higher in P. elaeagnifolia than in P. arabica, and the correlation between leaf biomass and LAI was stronger in P. elaeagnifolia. Litter biomass was 0.78 tons per hectare in P. arabica and 0.32 tons per hectare in P. elaeagnifolia, although the proportion of organic carbon in litter showed no significant difference. In both species, SOC was highest in the top 15 cm of soil, decreasing with depth, and was greater under the canopy than outside. The soil carbon stock was 29.9 tons per hectare in P. elaeagnifolia and 28.4 tons per hectare in P. arabica. These findings provide insights for the sustainable management of these habitats and contribute to climate change mitigation efforts.

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Main Subjects

References

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Forest and Wood Products
Volume 77, Issue 4
March 2025
Pages 423-438

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