Home /Estimation of the organic carbon stock in the ecosystem of the Middle Atlas Moroccan Quercus ilex forest

Estimation of the organic carbon stock in the ecosystem of the Middle Atlas Moroccan Quercus ilex forest

TitleEstimation of the organic carbon stock in the ecosystem of the Middle Atlas Moroccan Quercus ilex forest
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsBoulmane, M., Makhloufi M., Bouillet J-P., Saint-Andre L., Satrani B., Halim M., & Elantry-Tazi S.
JournalACTA BOTANICA GALLICA
Volume157
Issue3
Pagination451 - 467
Date Published2010///
Keywordsbiomass, mineralisation, organic carbon, Soil
Abstract

The present study was carried out in Quercus ilex forest of the Middle Moroccan Central Atlas (Tafachna and Reggada). It aims at the determination of the organic carbon stock in the various layers of the soils, the litter and the various components of the tree (wood of the trunk, bark, branches, smal branches and leaves). It comes out from this study that the stock of total carbon (SCOT) in the ecosystem of the holm oak is of 145 t C/ha for Tafachna and 114 t C/ha for Reggada. The organic carbon stock of soils (SCOS) represents more than 50% of the SCT. This stock varies considerably with the density of peuplement with 80 t C/ha for Tafachna (5192 species/ha) and 56 t C/ha for Reggada (1584 species/ha). Contrary to the carbon stock in the phytomass which is equal 64 t C/ha for Tafachna and 58 t C/ha for Reggada. More than 80% of the organic carbon stock of the soils is stored in the first 30 centimeters, that is about 63 t/ha (43% of the SCOT) for Tafachna and 47 t/ha (41% of the SCOT) for Reggada.