| Abstrakt: |
The present work was designed to study a soil sequence in Mount Mandara, in order to identify the influence of altitude, soil characteristics, and land use on the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC). The study was conducted in four sites in the Far-North region of Cameroon, including Zamai, Kossohone, Sir, and Rhumsiki. Three pits were dug down to the weathering horizons in three positions (upslope, mid-slope, and footslope) along a representative toposequence in each site. Samples were taken from each pit at regular increment of 25 cm from the soil surface. The total SOC stock (T-SOCS) contents are 128.63 ± 5.25 Mg ha−1 in Arenosols at Zamai (608 m a.s.l.), 158.248 ± 10.52 Mg ha−1 in Leptosols at Kosohone (865 m a.s.l.), 158.99 ± 13.25 Mg ha−1 in Luvisols at Sir (970 m a.s.l.), and 144.79 ± 24.23 Mg ha−1 in Regosols at Rhumsiki (1050 m a.s.l.). The main secondary minerals are smectite, kaolinite, sepiolite, lepidocrocite, hematite, and calcite. Clay minerals and iron oxides are good receptacle for SOC and might constitute a major asset for the accumulation and the sequestration of SOC. Increase in elevation leads to decrease in the annual temperature which affect microbial activity, leading thus to a slow rate of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition, which thereby affected SOCS. This is confirmed by the significant correlation between altitudinal gradient and T-SOCS (r = 0.70), with altitude contributing to the accumulation of SOC for 49.68%. Texture also plays a central role in carbon sequestration in the studied area, confirmed by the significant and positive correlation between silt fraction and SOM. Under Regosols, there is a decrease in T-SOCS value as a result of a reduction of the quantity of organic matter returned to the soil and more rapid SOM decomposition due to ploughing. This research provides a preliminary assessment for SOC stock at Mount Mandara. It suggests that altitudinal gradient, land use, and soil characteristics should be included in SOCS models and estimations at local and regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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