Edaphic factors and soil organic carbon storage potentials under different land use types in omo biosphere reserves Nigeria

Abstract

The regulatory functions of the soil are getting attention among scientists and Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is an important indicator of soil health. A study was carried out to investigate the SOC storage potentials under different land use types (Tectona grandis, Gmelina arborea, Acacia siamea, Pinus carrribea, and Natural forest) in Omo Biosphere Reserves Nigeria. The impact of the five important land use types on SOC and other soil properties were analyzed. Soil core samples were taken at two depths (0-10 and 10-30cm) to observe the changes in soil properties with depth. Laboratory analyses were carried out to determine the bulk density, soil pH, soil moisture, and soil organic carbon. The data obtained were analyzed using the Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to separate the means while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to examine the relationship between the soil parameters. Correlation analysis was carried out to examine if a relationship exists between soil depth and different land use on soil organic content and all other soil properties. The result showed that at both depths there is no significant difference between depths in pH, soil organic carbon, and soil moisture except for bulk density. Total Soil Organic Carbon stored in soil was highest in Teak plantation (3.1), followed by Acacia (2.17), and Natural forest (0.92), and at depth SOC was high in 0 10cm depth. The maximum value of bulk density (gcm3) was found high in 0-10cm at depth and was found high in Teak plantation (1.68) followed by Pinus plantation (1.67) and Acacia plantation (1.53). The distribution of moisture content showed no significant difference but the highest moisture was stored in Natural forest plantation (39.04), followed by Teak plantation (34) and Gmelina plantation (20), and the lowest in Pinus carribea plantation (10). Moisture content across depth showed that 0-10cm depth stored the highest but the 10-30cm depth () had the highest pH. Among the land use types, Teak plantation (5.84) had the highest pH, followed by Gmelina plantation (5.4) and Natural forest plantation (5.23). Results showed that SOC storage in soils can be influenced by different land use systems.