Effect of Forest Management Types on Soil Carbon Stocks in Montane Forests: A Case Study of Eastern Mau Forest in Kenya

Mau Forest, a major forest reserve in Kenya, has experienced anthropogenic disturbances through encroachment and forest fires. This study aimed at comparing the soil carbon stocks in different forest management types as well as how seasonal climatic changes influence its dynamics. The study was undertaken in the Eastern Mau block (Sururu) which forms part of the greater Mau Forest Complex. The forest management interventions have been in place for over 15 years with disturbed (fire) natural forest experiencing fires in 2005, 2007, and 2014 while cypress plantations were established in 1994. A nested experimental design was used in data collection, where thirty-two sample plots were nested into four blocks each measuring 100 m2 delineated by forest management types (disturbed by fire, natural forest, undisturbed natural forest, plantation, and glades). In each plot, data on soil carbon stocks, soil bulk density, soil moisture, and temperature were collected for both dry and wet seasons. Data collection was carried out between November 2015 and December 2016. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in the carbon stocks among the forest management types (F4,16 = 0.61, P = 0.613 ). However, seasonal weather changes significantly affected the amount of carbon stocks among the forest management types (F4,16 = 0.61, P > 0.05 ). The undisturbed natural forest had the highest mean soil carbon stocks, while the plantation forest had the lowest as follows: undisturbed natural forest (135.17 ± 35.99.0 Mg·C−ha), disturbed natural forest by fire (134.52 ± 38.11 Mg·C−ha), glades (122.4 ± 64.9 Mg·C−ha), and plantation forest (116.51 ± 39.77 Mg·C−ha). Furthermore, the undisturbed natural forest management had the highest bulk density (0.66 g/cm3), while the disturbed (fire) natural forest had the lowest (0.59 g/cm3). These values were low compared to most normal mineral soils which have a bulk density of between 1.0 g/cm3 and 1.5 g/cm3. There was a significant ( P > 0.01 ) relationship between seasonal weather (temperature) changes and soil carbon stocks under different forest management types with the relationship being stronger in soils under glades (r2 = 0.62) and weak in the undisturbed natural forest (r2 = 0.26). In conclusion, forest disturbances have an impact on soil carbon stocks, and for effective management of forest towards climate stabilization, then disturbance should be minimized if not avoided.

Download Full-text

Agro-forestry Systems as a Means to Achieve Carbon Co-benefits in Nepal

Journal of Forest and Livelihood ◽

10.3126/jfl.v13i1.15366 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 59-68

Author(s):

Roshan M. Bajracharya ◽

Him Lal Shrestha ◽

Ramesh Shakya ◽

Bishal K. Sitaula

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Community Forests ◽

C Stocks ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks ◽

Agro Forestry

Land management regimes and forest types play an important role in the productivity and accumulation of terrestrial carbon pools. While it is commonly accepted that forests enhance carbon sequestration and conventional agriculture causes carbon depletion, the effects of agro-forestry are not well documented. This study investigated the carbon stocks in biomass and soil, along with the selected soil properties in agro-forestry plots compared to community forests (CF) and upland farms in Chitwan, Gorkha and Rasuwa districts of Central Nepal during the year 2012-2013. We determined the total above ground biomass carbon, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and soil properties (bulk density, organic carbon per cent, pH, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), and cation exchange capacity (CEC)) on samples taken from four replicates of 500 m2 plots each in community forests, agro-forestry systems and agricultural land. The soil was sampled in two increments at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths and intact cores removed for bulk density and SOC determination, while loose samples were separately collected for the laboratory analysis of other soil properties. The mean SOC percent and corresponding soil carbon stocks to 30 cm depth were generally highest in CF (3.71 and 3.69 per cent, and 74.98 and 76.24 t ha-1, respectively), followed by leasehold forest (LHF) (2.26 and 1.13 per cent and 40.72 and 21.34 t ha-1, respectively) and least in the agricultural land (3.05 and 1.09 per cent, and 63.54 and 19.42 t ha-1, respectively). This trend was not, however, observed in Chitwan, where agriculture (AG) had the highest SOC content (1.98 per cent) and soil carbon stocks (42.5 t ha-1), followed by CF (1.8 per cent and 41.2 t ha-1) and leasehold forests (1.56 per cent and 35.3 t ha-1) although the differences were not statistically significant. Other soil properties were not significantly different among land use types with the exceptions of pH, total N, available P and CEC in the Chitwan plots. Typically, SOC and soil carbon stocks (to 30cm depth) were positively correlated with each other and with TN and CEC. The AGB-C was expectantly highest in Rasuwa district CF (ranging from 107.3 to 260.3 t ha-1) due to dense growth and cool climate, followed by Gorkha (3.1 to 118.4 t ha-1), and least in Chitwan (17.6 to 95.2 t ha-1). The highest C stocks for agro-forestry systems in both above ground and soil were observed in Rasuwa, followed by Chitwan district. Besides forests, agro-forestry systems also hold good potential to store and accumulate carbon, hence they have scope for contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation with co-benefits.Journal of Forest and Livelihood 13(1) May, 2015, page: 56-68

Download Full-text

Impacts of Harvest Residue Management on Soil Carbon Stocks in a Plantation Forest

Soil Science Society of America Journal ◽

10.2136/sssaj2007.0333 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 72 (6) ◽

pp. 1621-1627 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Haydon S. Jones ◽

Loretta G. Garrett ◽

Peter N. Beets ◽

Mark O. Kimberley ◽

Graeme R. Oliver

Keyword(s):

Soil Carbon ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Residue Management ◽

Plantation Forest ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks ◽

Harvest Residue

Download Full-text

Organic carbon partitioning in soil and litter in subtropical woodlands and open forests: a case study from the Brigalow Belt, Queensland

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj05015 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

S. H. Roxburgh ◽

B. G. Mackey ◽

C. Dean ◽

L. Randall ◽

A. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks ◽

Landscape Scales ◽

Open Forests

A woodland–open forest landscape within the Brigalow Belt South bioregion of Queensland, Australia, was surveyed for soil organic carbon, soil bulk density and soil-surface fine-litter carbon. Soil carbon stocks to 30 cm depth across 14 sites, spanning a range of soil and vegetation complexes, ranged from 10.7 to 61.8 t C/ha, with an overall mean of 36.2 t C/ha. Soil carbon stocks to 100 cm depth ranged from 19.4 to 150.5 t C/ha, with an overall mean of 72.9 t C/ha. The standing stock of fine litter ranged from 1.0 to 7.0 t C/ha, with a mean of 2.6 t C/ha, and soil bulk density averaged 1.4 g/cm3 at the soil surface, and 1.6 g/cm3 at 1 m depth. These results contribute to the currently sparse database of soil organic carbon and bulk density measurements in uncultivated soils within Australian open forests and woodlands. The estimates of total soil organic carbon stock calculated to 30 cm depth were further partitioned into resistant plant material (RPM), humus (HUM), and inert organic matter (IOM) pools using diffuse mid-infrared (MIR) analysis. Prediction of the HUM and RPM pools using the RothC soil carbon model agreed well with the MIR measurements, confirming the suitability of RothC for modelling soil organic carbon in these soils. Methods for quantifying soil organic carbon at landscape scales were also explored, and a new regression-based technique for estimating soil carbon stocks from simple field-measured soil attributes has been proposed. The results of this study are discussed with particular reference to the difficulties encountered in the collection of the data, their limitations, and opportunities for the further development of methods for quantifying soil organic carbon at landscape scales.

Download Full-text

Soil carbon stocks and bulk density: spatial or cumulative mass coordinates as a basis of expression?

Global Change Biology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-2486.2003.00677.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1507-1514 ◽

Cited By ~ 123

Author(s):

Roger M. Gifford ◽

Michael L. Roderick

Keyword(s):

Soil Carbon ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks ◽

Cumulative Mass

Download Full-text

Impact of 40 years poplar cultivation on soil carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-2-897-2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 897-931 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

C. Ferré ◽

A. Leip ◽

G. Matteucci ◽

F. Previtali ◽

G. Seufert

Keyword(s):

Spatial Variability ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Natural Forest ◽

Small Scale ◽

Forest Site ◽

Poplar Plantation ◽

Alluvial Deposits ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks

Abstract. Within the JRC Kyoto Experiment in the Regional Park and UN-Biosphere Reserve "Parco Ticino" (North-Italy, near Pavia), the soil carbon stocks and fluxes of CO2, N2O, and CH4 were measured in a poplar plantation in comparison with a natural mesohygrophilous deciduous forest nearby, which represents the pristine land cover of the area. Soil fluxes were measured using the static and dynamic closed chamber techniques for CH4 N2O, and CO2, respectively. We made further a pedological study to relate the spatial variability found with soil parameters. Annual emission fluxes of N2O and CO2 and deposition fluxes of CH4 were calculated for the year 2003 for the poplar plantation and compared to those measured at the natural forest site. N2O emissions at the poplar plantation were 0.15$plusmn;0.1 g N2O m-2 y-1 and the difference to the emissions at the natural forest of 0.07±0.06 g N2O m-2 y-1 are partly due to a period of high emissions after the flooding of the site at the end of 2002. CH4 consumption at the natural forest was twice as large as at the poplar plantation. In comparison to the relict forest, carbon stocks in the soil under the poplar plantation were depleted by 61% of surface (10 cm) carbon and by 25% down the profile under tillage (45 cm). Soil respiration rates were not significant different at both sites with 1608±1053 and 2200±791 g CO2 m-2 y-1 at the poplar plantation and natural forest, respectively, indicating that soil organic carbon is much more stable in the natural forest. In terms of the greenhouse gas budget, the non-CO2 gases contributed minor to the overall soil balance with only 0.9% (N2O) and -0.3% (CH4 of CO2-eq emissions in the natural forest, and 2.7% (N2O) and -0.2% of CO2-eq. emissions in the poplar plantation. The very high spatial variability of soil fluxes within the two sites was related to the morphology of the floodplain area, which was formed by the historic course of the Ticino river and led to a small-scale (tenth of meters) variability in soil texture and to small-scale differences in elevation. Differences of site conditions are reflected by differences of inundation patterns, ecosystem productivity, CO2 and N2O emission rates, and soil contents of carbon and nitrogen. Additional variability was observed during a flooding event and after fertilisation at the poplar site. Despite of this variability, the two sites are comparable as both originate from alluvial deposits. The study shows that changes in soil carbon stocks and related fertility are the most visible phenomena after 40 years of land use change from a pristine forest to a fast growing poplar plantation. Therefore, the conservation and careful management of existing carbon stocks deserves highest priority in the context of the Kyoto Protocol.

Download Full-text

Vegetation and Soil Carbon under Various Forest Management Types: Case of Karang Sidemen Community Forest in Lombok, Eastern Indonesia

International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics ◽

10.18280/ijdne.160604 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 641-648

Author(s):

Muhamad Husni Idris ◽

Sitti Latifah ◽

Budhy Setiawan ◽

Irwan Mahakam Lesmono Aji ◽

Diah Permata Sari

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Persea Americana ◽

Garcinia Mangostana ◽

Soil Carbon Stock ◽

Sparse Vegetation ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks

The condition of community-managed forest areas varies according to biophysics characteristics and management activities. This study aims to investigate the condition of vegetation and soil carbon stocks of various types of forest management by the community in Karang Sidemen Village, Lombok, Indonesia. In the study area, it was found 4 types of landuse management, namely; dense forest-like vegetation (Tp1), moderate vegetation with intensive (Tp2) and less intensive (Tp3) under-stand cultivation, and sparse vegetation resembling dryland agriculture (Tp4). Vegetation condition was analyzed based on satellite derived NDVI index and field observation. Sentinel satellite images for 2015 and 2019, with a resolution of 10x10 m was used. Field data collection was carried out in August 2019. It was made 5 sample plots of 20x20 m for each management type. Vegetation data with diameter (D) ≥ 20 cm, 10 cm ≤D< 20 cm, 2 cm ≤D< 10 cm and D< 2 cm were collected from plots of 20x20 m, subplots 10x10 m, 5x5 m and 2x2 m, respectively. Soil samples were taken diagonally on a 20x20 m plot, at a depth of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. The results showed that the NDVI derived vegetation index for 2015 and 2019 images showed different patterns for the four types of management. The number of species for Tp1, Tp2, Tp3 and Tp4 were 9, 15, 9 and 8 species, respectively. The dominant species are generally from groups of plants providing economic benefits such as avocado (Persea americana), candlenut (Aleurites moluccana), cocoa (Theobroma cacao), coffee (Coffea canephora), jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) and guava (Psidium guajava). Soil carbon stocks of the four types of management at a depth of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm were18.61-21.04 tons C/ha, 16.56-20.80 tons C/ha, 29.66-34.48 tons C/ha and 27.54 - 33.66 tons C/ha, respectively. The soil carbon stock of denser vegetation is higher than that of medium and sparse vegetation. Therefore, forest management with the community needs to maintain forest-like vegetation.

Download Full-text