Soil Carbon Stock and Soil Properties under Different Land Use Types of Agriculture

Abstract

Agriculture soils play a crucial role in carbon storage and food security. However, uncertainty remains about soil carbon stocks due to spatial variability. This study estimated soil carbon stocks in agricultural land and examined the impact of land use and soil properties on soil organic carbon in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand. Soil samples were collected at three depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) within five different land use types: cassava, coconut, paddy fields, pineapple, and sugarcane. The results revealed that soil organic carbon decreased with increasing depth. Significant differences in soil carbon and soil properties were observed among land uses. The carbon stocks at 0-30 cm depth were as follows: coconut (35.87 mg C/ha), paddy fields (31.17 mg C/ha), sugarcane (28.02 mg C/ha), pineapple (21.79 mg C/ha), and cassava (16.12 mg C/ha). The carbon stocks were significantly correlated with sand, density, clay, silt, and pH. This study highlights the impact of land use types on carbon stocks in agricultural soils and emphasizes the role of soil properties, particularly soil texture, in influencing carbon storage variability. Furthermore, the study highlights the carbon storage potential in agricultural areas, which could guide the formulation of policies to utilize agricultural land to offset CO2 emissions from other sectors.