Soil carbon stock in different land-use systems in the hilly terrain of Mizoram, Northeast India

Abstract

Soil carbon is one of the most affected variables to land-use change in tropics. The soil carbon flux plays a major role in regulating microbial activities and nutrient distribution in soil. This study aimed to evaluate the soil carbon stock in various land uses at different depths in the hilly terrain of Mizoram, Northeast India. Soil samples at 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm soil depths were collected from Rubber plantation (RP), Oil palm plantation (OPP), Teak plantation (TP), Bamboo Forest (BF), 5 years fallow (5YF), 10 years fallow (10YF), Tephrosia candida plantation (TCP), Horticulture garden (HORT), Homegarden (HG) and Natural forest (NF). Soil carbon stock varied significantly (p <0.05) across the land uses and depths. The soil under Tephrosia candida stand had significantly (p <0.05) higher values of C stock (73.66 Mg ha-1) which may be due to high biomass, dense vegetative cover and high C in root exudates. The minimum C stock estimated in Horticulture garden (43.28 Mg ha-1) is probably due to reduced soil organic matter. Soil carbon stock in Homegarden, Teak plantation, Bamboo forest and Rubber plantation ranged from 46.82 Mg ha-1 to 59.34 Mg ha-1 whereas 5 years and 10 years fallow land, Natural forest and Oil palm plantation ranged from 61.35 Mg ha-1 to 73.35 Mg ha-1. The study indicated that the land use change in the mountainous region significantly affected the carbon stock in the soil. A proper land use management strategies to increase the soil organic matter is recommended to enhance the carbon stock in this region.

Land‐use systems for biomass, carbon storage, and carbon credit: implications for climate change mitigation in subtropical pockets of Vindhyan region, India

“…The highest SOC and SOC stock were recorded in the TDDFLUS, attributed to increased litter deposition, reduced soil disturbance, and slower decomposition rate of soil organic carbon. Conversely, WBALUS exhibited the lowest SOC concentration and stock due to intensive farming methods, which cause significant soil disruption and accelerate SOC decomposition 55–57 . Sahoo et al 11 .…”

“…Conversely, WBALUS exhibited the lowest SOC concentration and stock due to intensive farming methods, which cause significant soil disruption and accelerate SOC decomposition. [55][56][57] Sahoo et al 11 reported that the amount and quality of litter in various LUSs regulate the quality of organic carbon produced, shaping the soil's physico-chemical characteristics. Variations in SOC and stock were also noted across distinct soil depths.…”

Changes in soil properties in different land use types in a desert-oasis ecotone, Inner Mongolia, China

“…Available phosphorus correlated negatively with organic matter and other nutrients ( Sun et al., 2013 ; Gong and Wang, 2011 ; Wang et al., 2018 ; Liu, 2017 ). Manpoong et al. (2021) study soil carbon stock in different land-use systems in the hilly terrain of Mizoram, Northeast India, think that the land use change in the mountainous region significantly affected the carbon stock in the soil.…”