Assessment of Soil Organic Carbon Stock of Temperate Coniferous Forests in Northern Kashmir

Authors

  • Davood A. Dar School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Sector 30 Gandhinagar Gujarat
  • Bhawana Pathak School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Sector 30 Gandhinagar Gujarat
  • M. H. Fulekar School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Sector 30 Gandhinagar Gujarat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ije.v4i1.12186

Keywords:

Soil organic carbon, CO2 mitigation, Soil organic matter, Kashmir

Abstract

 Soil organic carbon (SOC) estimation in temperate forests of the Himalaya is important to estimate their contribution to regional, national and global carbon stocks. Physico chemical properties of soil were quantified to assess soil organic carbon density (SOC) and SOC CO2 mitigation density at two soil depths (0-10 and 10-20 cms) under temperate forest in the Northern region of Kashmir Himalayas India. The results indicate that conductance, moisture content, organic carbon and organic matter were significantly higher while as pH and bulk density were lower at Gulmarg forest site. SOC % was ranging from 2.31± 0.96 at Gulmarg meadow site to 2.31 ± 0.26 in Gulmarg forest site. SOC stocks in these temperate forests were from 36.39 ±15.40 to 50.09 ± 15.51 Mg C ha-1. The present study reveals that natural vegetation is the main contributor of soil quality as it maintained the soil organic carbon stock. In addition, organic matter is an important indicator of soil quality and environmental parameters such as soil moisture and soil biological activity change soil carbon sequestration potential in temperate forest ecosystems.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v4i1.12186

International Journal of Environment

Volume-4, Issue-1, Dec-Feb 2014/15; page: 161-178

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Published

2015-02-22

How to Cite

Dar, D. A., Pathak, B., & Fulekar, M. H. (2015). Assessment of Soil Organic Carbon Stock of Temperate Coniferous Forests in Northern Kashmir. International Journal of Environment, 4(1), 161–178. https://doi.org/10.3126/ije.v4i1.12186

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2015)

Section

Research Papers

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