SOIL ORGANIC CARBON STOCKS IN SEMI-ARID SALINE SOILS OF DUTSE, NORTHERN NIGERIA
2025
Onokebhagbe, V. O | Adam, I.A. | Mohamed, S. | Joseph, J
Soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks play a critical role in soil fertility, ecosystem sustainability and climate change mitigation. This study assesses the SOC stocks in semi-arid saline soils of Dutse, Northern Nigeria, a region characterized by low rainfall, high temperatures, and soil salinity challenges. Soil samples were collected from three land use types, including croplands (School farm), permanent crops (NIFOR) and fallow lands (Senate building), at three different depths (0–20, 20-40 and 40–60 cm). The SOC content, bulk density, and soil salinity levels were analyzed to estimate SOC stocks and evaluate the impact of salinity on carbon sequestration. Results revealed that SOC stocks were relatively low with no significant variations with depth, ranging from 1740.34 g C cm-2 in the topsoil (0–20 cm), 1910.95 g C cm-2 (20-40 cm) to 1870.04 g C cm-2 in the subsoil (40–60 cm), with significant variations across land use types ranging from 1040.78 (NIFOR) to 2580.79 (School farm) g C cm-2. Saline soils exhibited reduced SOC stocks compared to non-saline soils, highlighting the inhibitory effect of salinity on organic matter accumulation. School farm showed higher SOC stocks than Senate and NIFOR suggesting that land management practices significantly influence carbon storage. This study underscores the need for sustainable land management strategies to enhance SOC stocks in semi-arid saline soils, thereby improving soil health and contributing to climate change mitigation in the region.
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