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Carbon stock in the grassland of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Eastern Nepal

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Biology, Central Campus of Technology, Dharan, T.U., Nepal

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 7, Issue (6), Pages 56-60, June,22 (2018)

Abstract

Carbon stock of soil and biomass were evaluated in the grassland of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserves (KTWR), Eastern Nepal. This was with a view to provide information on grassland serving as carbon sink and to assess their contribution to carbon stock. For the study, three 50m x 50 m core areas or sampling areas were established. Soil samples were randomly collected from each sampling areas at a depth of 15 cm, then it was air-dried, oven dried at 100ºC and then analyzed the carbon stock in the soil. The above ground and below ground biomasses were harvested by randomly placing ten 50cm x 50cm quadrates in each sampling areas. The harvested plants were oven dried at 70ºC to a constant weight, weighed, and analyzed carbon stock in biomass. The soil carbon stocks was found to be 25.12, 20.96, 18.50 t/ha to a depth of 15cm on short grass area, medium grass area and tall grass area respectively. The carbon stock in biomass was found to be 6.58, 11.30, 16.44 t/ha on short grass area, medium grass area and tall grass area respectively. The soil of short grass area stored the highest soil organic carbon and on the other hand biomass of the tall grass area stored the maximum organic carbon. The results concluded short grass area that has been mostly grazed contained more carbon stock.

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