TITLE:
Acacia trotilis and Calotropis procera: Do They Substantially Promote Soil Carbon Sequestration?
AUTHORS:
Taoufik Saleh Ksiksi
KEYWORDS:
Desert Soils; Nutrient Cycling; Soil Carbon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.2 No.2,
June
22,
2012
ABSTRACT: Very little is known about the type and mix of desert plant species and their management to optimize carbon sequestration in desert ecosystems. Overgrazing is one important practice that affects soil carbon cycling and therefore sequestration. Improving soil carbon in desert ecosystems may be best through the use of native trees and shrubs. Acacia tortilis and calotropis procera are two important species in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The former is a native species that improves biodiversity and the latter is not native and has been reported to be an indicator of overgrazing. The average soil organic matter (SOM) content was higher in soils dominated by A. tortilis when compared to those dominated by C. procera; 2.98 and 1.34; respectively (P 2 emission.