Effect of Land Use and Topography on Spatial Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon in Semi-arid Subtropical Ecosystems in Uttar Pradesh, India

Naorem J Singh, M. Kudrat, K. Jain

Abstract


The increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration could be mitigated with adoption of appropriate carbon sequestration strategies. For this purpose, it is essential the understanding the relationship between soil organic carbon (SOC) content and land uses and land forms, and precise and accurate estimation. In this study, SOC stock is estimated for different physiographical units and land uses in Uttar Pradesh, Indo-Gangetic plains and also its spatial variation. The nugget to sill ratio of SOC was 0.44 and 0.09 at 0-30 and 0-100 cm, and 0.78 and 0.76 for SIC at 0-30 and 0-100 cm. SOC stock at 0-30cm depth had a moderate spatial dependence, and a strong spatial dependence at 0-100cm, but soil inorganic carbon (SIC) stock had a weak spatial dependence at 0-30cm and moderate spatial dependence at 0-100cm depth. The SOC was varied 2.3-99.92 (x 106g ha-1) at 0-30 cm and 17.34-310.2 (x 106 g ha-1) at 0-100 cm. The forests in northern and south-eastern part of the study site were accumulated higher SOC and also high SOC storage was noted in those part of following rice–wheat, and sugarcane–wheat system. Less SOC stock at 0-100cm was found in eastern most and north western part and also scattering patches of central part confined to recent alluvium. High SIC was confined to south-west part of the study area where lands are salt affected. Forest area had a minimum SIC stock. This spatial variability of SOC could be very important for site-specific carbon management programme.

Keywords


Soil Organic Carbon, Indo-Gangetic Plain, Spatial Variation and Ordinary Kriging

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