Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability
Background: Soil carbon sequestration is a fundamental mechanism for mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Soils can store more carbon than both vegetation and the atmosphere combined. This study aims to quantify the organic carbon stock and evaluate various phys...
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The Ecological Society of Korea
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ecology and Environment |
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| Online Access: | http://www.e-jecoenv.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5141/jee.24.088 |
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| author | Raja Waqar Ahmed Khan Maryam Quratulain Hamayun Shaheen Karamit Hussain Abdul Basit Mehmood |
| author_facet | Raja Waqar Ahmed Khan Maryam Quratulain Hamayun Shaheen Karamit Hussain Abdul Basit Mehmood |
| author_sort | Raja Waqar Ahmed Khan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Soil carbon sequestration is a fundamental mechanism for mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Soils can store more carbon than both vegetation and the atmosphere combined. This study aims to quantify the organic carbon stock and evaluate various physicochemical properties of the soil to promote sustainability in the Lesser Himalayan subtropical coniferous and mixed forests of Muzaffarabad. Soil samples were collected from ten representative sites within each forest type, and soil organic carbon (SOC) was measured using the Walkley-Black method. Results: The SOC averaged 63.86 ± 3.29 Mg ha-1 in coniferous forests and 50.05 ± 3.05 Mg ha-1 in mixed forests, with a total average of 56.95 ± 1.40 Mg ha-1. SOC levels in coniferous forest soils ranged from 82.11 ± 6.52 Mg ha-1 to 48.63 ± 3.82 Mg ha-1, while mixed forest ecosystems exhibited a SOC range of 62.29 ± 4.71 Mg ha-1 to 35.57 ± 2.34 Mg ha-1. The average soil pH was 7.1 ± 0.14, whereas soil bulk density, and electrical conductivity were 1.1 ± 0.01 g cm-3 and 0.95 ± 0.07 dS m-1, respectively. The sampled forests harboured 103 plant species from 48 families and 92 genera, with trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants constituting 17%, 12%, and 71% of the flora, respectively. Conclusions: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in SOC between coniferous and mixed forest types. The dominant plant families in the studied forests were Poaceae, Compositeae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae. The findings underscore the need for sustainable forest and soil management policies to enhance SOC levels. Implementing such policies is crucial for achieving the sustainable development goals related to environmental sustainability, economic development, and societal well-being. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2287-8327 2288-1220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | The Ecological Society of Korea |
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| series | Journal of Ecology and Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-14e2e9cf60704a47bcfa5bc77f08f1142025-08-20T03:11:33ZengThe Ecological Society of KoreaJournal of Ecology and Environment2287-83272288-12202025-02-014910.5141/jee.24.088jee.24.088Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainabilityRaja Waqar Ahmed Khan0Maryam Quratulain1Hamayun Shaheen2Karamit Hussain3Abdul Basit Mehmood4Department of Botany, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, King Abdullah Campus, Muzaffarabad 13101, PakistanDepartment of Botany, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, King Abdullah Campus, Muzaffarabad 13101, PakistanDepartment of Botany, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, King Abdullah Campus, Muzaffarabad 13101, PakistanDepartment of Botany, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, King Abdullah Campus, Muzaffarabad 13101, PakistanDepartment of Botany, The University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, King Abdullah Campus, Muzaffarabad 13101, PakistanBackground: Soil carbon sequestration is a fundamental mechanism for mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Soils can store more carbon than both vegetation and the atmosphere combined. This study aims to quantify the organic carbon stock and evaluate various physicochemical properties of the soil to promote sustainability in the Lesser Himalayan subtropical coniferous and mixed forests of Muzaffarabad. Soil samples were collected from ten representative sites within each forest type, and soil organic carbon (SOC) was measured using the Walkley-Black method. Results: The SOC averaged 63.86 ± 3.29 Mg ha-1 in coniferous forests and 50.05 ± 3.05 Mg ha-1 in mixed forests, with a total average of 56.95 ± 1.40 Mg ha-1. SOC levels in coniferous forest soils ranged from 82.11 ± 6.52 Mg ha-1 to 48.63 ± 3.82 Mg ha-1, while mixed forest ecosystems exhibited a SOC range of 62.29 ± 4.71 Mg ha-1 to 35.57 ± 2.34 Mg ha-1. The average soil pH was 7.1 ± 0.14, whereas soil bulk density, and electrical conductivity were 1.1 ± 0.01 g cm-3 and 0.95 ± 0.07 dS m-1, respectively. The sampled forests harboured 103 plant species from 48 families and 92 genera, with trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants constituting 17%, 12%, and 71% of the flora, respectively. Conclusions: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in SOC between coniferous and mixed forest types. The dominant plant families in the studied forests were Poaceae, Compositeae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae. The findings underscore the need for sustainable forest and soil management policies to enhance SOC levels. Implementing such policies is crucial for achieving the sustainable development goals related to environmental sustainability, economic development, and societal well-being.http://www.e-jecoenv.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5141/jee.24.088climate changeforestspinussoil healthsoil organic carbonsustainabilitysustainable development goals |
| spellingShingle | Raja Waqar Ahmed Khan Maryam Quratulain Hamayun Shaheen Karamit Hussain Abdul Basit Mehmood Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability Journal of Ecology and Environment climate change forests pinus soil health soil organic carbon sustainability sustainable development goals |
| title | Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability |
| title_full | Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability |
| title_fullStr | Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability |
| title_short | Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability |
| title_sort | local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in lesser himalayan coniferous and mixed forests implications for sustainability |
| topic | climate change forests pinus soil health soil organic carbon sustainability sustainable development goals |
| url | http://www.e-jecoenv.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5141/jee.24.088 |
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