The Potential of Juniperus thurifera to Sequester Carbon in Semi-Arid Forest Soil in Spain

Abstract

Abstract:The main purpose of this work is to show the influence of vegetation in the storage and stabilisation of organic carbon in semi-arid Juniperus thurifera (J. thurifera) forest soil in central Spain. The variability of the organic matter storage with factors such as sex, trunk diameter and the protection of the canopy of the tree has been analysed. The distribution of the soil organic carbon (SOC) into different fractions has also been determined, in order to estimate the stability of the organic matter. The results show that the SOC concentration has no dependence on the sex of the tree, but it increases with the diameter of the trunk and under the protection of the tree canopy. This study found that the organic matter of the J. thurifera forest soil has a high proportion of recalcitrant organic fraction, humin, which suggests that, given its organic matter stability, J. thurifera forest soils could be a real carbon sink. Consequently, the conservation of this type of old forest ecosystem is important for promoting carbon sequestration.

Effects of stand age on carbon storage in dragon spruce forest ecosystems in the upper reaches of the Bailongjiang River basin, China

“…In accordance with other forest ecosystem studies 27,28 , this study showed that SOC generally decreased with increased soil depth. SOC in the 0–0.1 m soil layer was the highest in each age group because this layer incorporated ground litter and created organic matter through bioturbation 27 , whereas, at a depth of 0.4–0.6 m, there was a significantly lower level of SOC (Table 1) due to root distribution 29 .…”

Geobotanical Study of the Microforests of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. badia in the Central and Southern Iberian Peninsula

“…present in Portugal and Spain. In fact, this kind of habitat-among others-could also sequester a substantial amount of CO 2 , as in the case of the juniper forest in Central Spain, which is characterised by other species of Juniperus such as J. thurifera L. and J. communis L. [71]. It is today essential to develop a modern forest management system in protected areas, and to promote the importance of forests and their extensions as a means of protecting and improving the natural environment, according to Rădulescu et al [72].…”

Recruitment, mortality and growth in semi‐arid conifer‐eucalypt forest: Small trees insure against fire and drought

“…Western North America, Central Asia and Australia all have large areas of semi‐arid woodlands and forests (Cherlet et al, 2018 ) and numerous authors have drawn attention to the potential losses of carbon, habitat and local livelihoods that could stem from their degradation (e.g. Charro et al, 2017 ; Trumper et al, 2008 ; Werneck et al, 2012 ). Long‐term data revealed contrasting changes in carbon accumulation in semi‐arid Miombo woodlands, with gains in regrowth and losses in old‐growth stands, due to fire and harvesting (Chidumayo, 2019 ).…”

“…Western North America, Central Asia and Australia all have large areas of semi-arid woodlands and forests (Cherlet et al, 2018) and numerous authors have drawn attention to the potential losses of carbon, habitat and local livelihoods that could stem from their degradation (e.g. Charro et al, 2017;Trumper et al, 2008;Werneck et al, 2012).…”