Carbon pools in the steppes of the Republic of Tyva (Russia)

Center for Biosphere Research of the Rebublic of Tyva, Kyzyl, 667003, Russia

^* Corresponding author: sambuu@mail.ru

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to determine the reserves of carbon of plant matter (CPM) and carbon of soil organic matter (CSОM) in steppe ecosystems and agrocenoses of the Republic of Tuva, to assess the carbon cycle over the past 100 years due to changes in land use. The data obtained by us showed that in the territory of Tuva, until 1910, undisturbed vegetation was characterized by a natural mode of use. The replacement of natural ecosystems in agrocenoses since 1950 has led to a change in the carbon budget. Steppe ecosystems suffered the greatest carbon losses. The current supply of plant organic matter (POM) is 2–3 times less than the past. The carbon pool is decreasing from the forest steppe to the dry steppes. As in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Khakassia, in Tuva a large proportion of carbon in agrocenoses is contained in soil organic matter. Since 1990 the reduction of arable land and the restoration of natural cover has begun. Currently, there is an accumulation of plant organic matter (POM) and a slow increase in the stock of soil organic matter (SОM), although at the local level, but it is the most effective way to mitigate the effects of the greenhouse effect.