Increases in soil and woody biomass carbon stocks as a result of rangeland riparian restoration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Globally, vegetation in riparian zones is frequently the target of restoration efforts because of its importance in reducing the input of eroded sediment and agricultural nutrient runoff to surface waters. Here we examine the potential of riparian zone restoration to enhance carbon sequestration. We measured soil and woody biomass carbon stocks, as well as soil carbon properties, in a long-term chronosequence of 42 streambank revegetation projects in northern California rangelands, varying in restoration age from 1 to 45 years old.

Results

Where revegetation was successful, we found that soil carbon measured to 50 cm depth increased at a rate of 0.87 Mg C ha^-1 year^-1 on the floodplain and 1.12 Mg C ha^-1 year^-1 on the upp

SUBMITTER: Matzek V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7395391 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature