Ameliorative Afforestation in Carbon Accumulation

Abstract

Ameliorative afforestation is one of the measures for establishing forest and for the revegetation of degraded areas. These afforestation activities have multiple effects on environment control and conservation. Forests are able to decrease GHG emission and sequester atmospheric carbon in biomass and forest soil. This paper describes the effect of different ameliorative afforestation technique on level of accumulated carbon in soil followings. The study area is the Grdeliola gorge, which was affected by intensive soil erosion before numerous afforestation programmes were conducted in the mid-1950s. This research was conducted on the soils of Krpejski stream, Kalimanska river, Predejanska river and Kunovska river watersheds. Two soil profiles were opened in each sample plot. The main physical and chemical soil characteristics were determined by JDPZ methods (1966 and 1997) and IPC methods (1998). Carbon accumulation is calculated according Soil Sampling Protocol, 2005 and IPCC 1996, 2003. The differences in C accumulation depend on development of soil profile, vegetation type, and applied ameliorative techniques. The research results showed differences in carbon content in soil and average annual carbon accumulation among soils afforested by different afforestation methods (pit-planting and bench terrace method). Also, on sample plots afforested by bench terrace method, there is the difference in carbon accumulation between profiles opened in bench terrace and profiles between bench terraces. Soil type characteristics are among factors influencing carbon accumulation. Furthermore, there is considerable difference in carbon accumulation in soil of the same type, but different depth.