Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid-semi-arid floodplain

Title
Carbon storage value of native vegetation on a subhumid-semi-arid floodplain
Publication Date
2013
Author(s)
Smith, Rhiannon
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6375-5684
Email: rsmith66@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:rsmith66
Reid, Nick
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4377-9734
Email: nrei3@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nrei3
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
CSIRO Publishing
Place of publication
Australia
DOI
10.1071/CP13075
UNE publication id
une:17488
Abstract
The protection of carbon (C) stores in the form of remnant native vegetation and soils is crucial for minimising C emissions entering the atmosphere. This study estimated C storage in soils, woody vegetation, dead standing vegetation, coarse woody debris, herbaceous vegetation, litter and roots in plant communities commonly encountered on cotton farms. River red gum was the most valuable vegetation type for C storage, having up to 4.5% C content in the surface (0-5 cm) soil, a total-site C store of 216 ± 28t ha⁻¹ (mean ± s.e.) and a maximum value of 396.4 t C ha⁻¹. Grasslands were the least C-dense, with 396.4 ± 3.72t C ha⁻¹. The greatest proportion of C in river red gum sites was in standing woody biomass, but in all other vegetation types and especially grasslands, the top 0-30 cm of the soil was the most C rich component. Aboveground woody vegetation determined total-site C sequestration, as it strongly influenced all other C storing components, including soil C. This study illustrates the value of native vegetation and the soil beneath for storing large amounts of C. There is a case for rewarding farmers for maintaining and enhancing remnant vegetation to avoid vegetation degradation and loss of existing C stores.
Link
Citation
Crop and Pasture Science, 64(11-12), p. 1209-1216
ISSN
1836-5795
1836-0947
Start page
1209
End page
1216

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