Assessment of the organic carbon stock in the green oak forest in the Morrocan Oulmes Central Plateau

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the Morrocan Oulmes Central Plateau to assess the organic carbon stock (OCS) in the soil and biomass of the green oak ecosystem. Soil samples taken from green oak plots at the upper organomineral layer (<30 cm depth) were analyzed by conventional assay for the determination of carbon stock in each sample. Also, other soil physicochemical parameters namely pH, total nitrogen, total limestone, organic carbon, bulk density, texture, and stability of soil aggregates were studied. Aliquots of ten green oak trees were used to assess the carbon stock in the different compartments of the tree. The studied soil is slightly acidic to neutral with a pH ranging from 5.49 to 7.19. The texture of the studied area is loam. The soil organic carbon stock ranges from 16.03 t/ha to 97.33 t/ha with an average value of 40.07 t/ha. The total above-ground biomass of the green oak stands in the studied plots has an average value of 55.28 t/ha, and the average value of the total carbon mass is 31.06 t/ha.