Below-ground carbon stocks in intact and transformed subtropical thicket landscapes in semi-arid South Africa
Date
2010
Authors
Mills A.J.
Cowling R.M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The feasibility of restoring subtropical thicket using carbon markets is largely a function of its carbon sequestration potential. We measured below-ground carbon stocks and analysed soil properties in intact, degraded and old agricultural landscapes in Baviaans Spekboom Thicket - a highly degraded thicket type earmarked for restoration. Soil and root carbon stocks to a depth of 110 cm in intact thicket were 93 ± 7 (SE) t ha-1 and 11 ± 2 t ha-1, respectively. Degraded thicket had approximately one-third of the soil (31 ± 2 t ha-1) and one-quarter of the root (2.7 ± 0.3 t ha-1) carbon of intact thicket. Old agricultural lands had approximately half of the soil (42 ± 4 t ha-1) and quarter of the root (2.6 ± 0.3 t ha-1) carbon of intact thicket. Soil carbon stocks in topsoil were constrained at low concentrations of extractable K (<0.5 mmolc kg-1), Mg (<1 mmolc kg-1), Ca (<12 mmolc kg-1) and extractable P (<40 mg kg-1), suggesting that carbon sequestration will be strongly influenced by soil nutrient content. Restoration of Baviaans Spekboom Thicket stands to sequester 70 ± 8 t ha-1 of below-ground carbon - an amount rivalling sequestration potentials in degraded mesic forests. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Description
Keywords
arable land, belowground biomass, carbon sequestration, land degradation, restoration ecology, semiarid region, soil carbon, soil erosion, soil nutrient, soil property, topsoil, Africa, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
Citation
Journal of Arid Environments
74
1
74
1