Sreekesh S, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics Under Different Crop Covers in a Valley Ecosystem of Western Ghats, SouthWest India
Powshi V1 and S Sreekesh2
1Department of Geography, Government Arts and Science College, Tholanur
2Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Carbon sequestration is the major mitigation measure to global warming. Estimation of carbon stocks is essential for the assessment of the carbon sequestration potential of any area. In light of this, the study was conducted in the valley ecosystem of the western part of southern Western ghats to explore the carbon stocks and sequestration potential of soil covered by five major crop cover types. The crops identified are Paddy fields, Vegetable fields, Mango plantations, Coconut-Arecanut groves and Homestead farms. In addition, the influence of altitude variation of carbon stock distribution also explored. Soil samples are collected from 43 locations. At each location samples were collected from 3 depths. A total of 129 samples was collected and analyzed the variation in carbon stock and its potential under different crop cover types. The results indicate, the average carbon stock of different crop cover is decreasing with depth. Comparatively stable carbon stock distribution is found among Mango plantations. The variability of carbon stock in the top layer of different crop cover is minimal and it is higher in the lower layer. Further, the highest carbon sequestration potential is observed among the soils of Mango plantations, followed by paddy fields. Altitudinal variations are having a lesser influence on carbon stock among the crop cover types in the study area in Western Ghats.
Mots clés : Carbon Stock|Carbon Sequestration Potential|Crop Cover |Valley Ecosystem
A105033PV