Assessment of carbon stock potential in sub-tropical rangeland ecosystems: a case study of Dak Ismail Khel, KP, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2026.015Keywords
rangelands, carbon stocks, soil organic carbon, climate change, NowsheraAbstract
Rangelands play a vital role in climate change mitigation and adaptation by sequestering carbon when properly managed. However, limited data exist on carbon stocks in Pakistan’s rangelands. This study assessed carbon stocks in the rangeland of Dak Ismail Khel, located in the subtropical ecological zone of Nowsehra district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Field data were collected from 39 systematically distributed nested circular plots to estimate carbon in trees, shrubs, and grasses. Seven species were identified, including Acacia modesta, Acacia nilotica, Ziziphus nummularia, Nerium oleander, Capparis aphylla, Prosopis juliflora, and Desmostachya bipinnata. Mean above-ground biomass (AGB) was 9.05 t C ha⁻¹, and below-ground biomass (BGB) was 3.28 t C ha⁻¹, resulting in a total biomass of 481.6 tons. Mean above-ground carbon (AGC) was 4.25 t C ha⁻¹, below-ground carbon (BGC) 1.55 t C ha⁻¹, and total carbon stock 226.2 tons. Soil organic carbon averaged 40.19 t C ha⁻¹, contributing to a total carbon stock of 1,793.6 tons in the study area. These findings highlight the significant carbon sequestration potential of rangelands and emphasize the need for sustainable management and carbon trading initiatives to enhance climate mitigation benefits.
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