Estimation of soil carbon pool under different land use systems in Kashmir valley

Abstract

The present investigations entitled “Estimation of soil carbon pool under different land use systems in Kashmir valley” was conducted in Srinagar district of Kashmir valley at two sites viz., Site A and Site B. Results revealed that the tree based land use systems aside, the soil organic carbon stock was higher in grasslands (75t ha-1) at site A and (76.16)at site B, than in agriculture (65.17 t ha-1) at A and (63.36 t ha-1) at B, vegetables (63.75 t ha-1) at A and (65.52 t ha-1) at B and wasteland/uncultivated land (30.45 t ha-1) at A and (29.31 t ha-1) at B. At site A, Dachigam maximum carbon stock (556.731 t ha-1) was recorded in natural forest-Blue Pine land use system at the elevation range of 1700-2000 m a.s.l. Whereas, at site B, upper Dachigam, maximum carbon stock (524.039 t ha-1) was recorded in the forest based land use system viz. natural forest-Blue Pine situated at the altitudinal range of 2000-2500 m a.s.l.