Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil Organic Carbon

Quantifying Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) dynamics is important in understanding changes in soil properties and Carbon (C) fluxes in ecosystems. Aboveground and belowground litter decomposition under different age of rubber plantation has been determined through mesh bag technique. Correlation analysis was applied to explore the relationship between active C (AC) pools in the upper soil layer with aboveground and belowground litter production and mean residence time (MRT). SOC concentration of each of the soil samples was determined through wet oxidation method. Fine roots of the surface soil layer are very dynamic in nature and play a significant role in soil C flux. The analysis revealed significant variations in SOC stocks with chronosequence. The negative correlationship between AC pool and litter production further strengthen the argument that low litter production conserves more SOC under AC pool and vice versa. Human-induced land use change from tropical forests into plantations and croplands may act as a C source and simultaneously degrade soil properties.