Rajahmundry, Sept. 19: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education has taken up a study to find out the rate of absorption of carbon by forest soils of the country. The study will also help scientists assess levels of carbon emissions into the atmosphere in various parts of the country, and initiate measures to control it. As part of this programme, the Hyderabad based Forest Research Centre has selected five places from which soil samples are being taken up for analysis in its laboratory. The places include: mangrove forests at Chollangi in East Godavari; dry red sanders bearing forests at Chitoor, Kurnool and Kadapa; southern dry mixed deciduous forests at Kurnool and Kadapa; dry deciduous scrub forests at Mansoorabad in Hyderabad and southern thorn forests at Panapakam in Chitoor district. As many as 25 forest soil samples were collected from all these places. The scientists of the Forest Research Centre have now arrived at East Godavari to lift samples from the Mangrove forests in Chollangi. Scientists are also collecting other data pertaining to longitude and latitude of the place from where the soil samples were collected, type of vegetation, name of other species growing in the area, soil condition and other details of the forests. The study will also focus on the variation in the absorption of carbon by different kinds of plants. Carbon is usually stored in the stem and leaves of a plant and when leaves fall down the carbon is absorbed by the soil. On the other hand, when the trunk of a tree is cut for firewood, carbon leaks out. If the wood is burnt, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. "We are in the process of collecting forest soil samples in AP," said Dr A. Ponnambalam of the centre. "These samples will go for analysis at the lab located in the centre and a report will be sent to the project leader by October 12 for further assessment."