Urmia University Forest Research and Development 2476-3551 7 2 2021 08 23 Effect of alder plantation age on soil carbon sequestration Effect of alder plantation age on soil carbon sequestration 279 291 121058 10.30466/jfrd.2021.121058 FA Mazaher Alazmani M.Sc. Student Forestry, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari. I.R. Iran Seyyed Mohammad Hojati Associate Professor, Department of Forestry, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, ‎Sari, I.R. Iran 0000-0001-7518-4391 Seyed Mohammad Waez-Mousavi Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural ‎Resources, Gorgan, I.R. Iran 0000-0002-0090-7257 Mahya Tafazoli Ph.D. in Forestry, Department of Forestry, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, ‎Sari, I.R. Iran 0000-0003-4790-1706 Journal Article 2020 08 16 There had been no study about the effect of the plantations’ age on the properties of forest soils and soil carbon sequestration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an alder plantation’s age on some soil properties and carbon sequestration. Three alder plantation stands (25, 30, and 35 years old) located in Parcels No. 6 and 7 in Shastkolateh forest were selected. In order to investigate the quantitative characteristics of trees, the diameter and height of all trees were recorded using the full inventory method. In each stand, 20 × 20 m sample plots were considered using a systematic random method with a 50 × 50 m grid. A soil sample was then taken at the depth of 0-15 cm in each plot using the core method. The result showed that the 35-year-old stand had the highest soil moisture (45.49%±2.44) and the lowest bulk density (1.36 g/cm²±0.02). The highest pH (7.59 ±0.01) and the lowest EC (0.71±0.02 dS/m) were observed in the 35-year-old stand. The highest and lowest percentages of total soil nitrogen as well as carbon sequestration were observed in the 35- and 25- year- old stands, respectively. The results of component analysis showed that the 35-year-old stand was different from the other two stands; hence, it can be stated that alder plantation stands will have a high capacity for carbon sequestration at this age. There had been no study about the effect of the plantations’ age on the properties of forest soils and soil carbon sequestration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an alder plantation’s age on some soil properties and carbon sequestration. Three alder plantation stands (25, 30, and 35 years old) located in Parcels No. 6 and 7 in Shastkolateh forest were selected. In order to investigate the quantitative characteristics of trees, the diameter and height of all trees were recorded using the full inventory method. In each stand, 20 × 20 m sample plots were considered using a systematic random method with a 50 × 50 m grid. A soil sample was then taken at the depth of 0-15 cm in each plot using the core method. The result showed that the 35-year-old stand had the highest soil moisture (45.49%±2.44) and the lowest bulk density (1.36 g/cm²±0.02). The highest pH (7.59 ±0.01) and the lowest EC (0.71±0.02 dS/m) were observed in the 35-year-old stand. The highest and lowest percentages of total soil nitrogen as well as carbon sequestration were observed in the 35- and 25- year- old stands, respectively. The results of component analysis showed that the 35-year-old stand was different from the other two stands; hence, it can be stated that alder plantation stands will have a high capacity for carbon sequestration at this age. https://jfrd.urmia.ac.ir/article_121058_3021df6628145a05a68fa6f5b183b19b.pdf