Title
Soil Carbon Density in Surface Soil at Lenda1 Forest Dynamic Plot, Okapi Faunal Reserve, Epulu
Author(s)
Nkongolo, N. V.;Kakuni, J. J.;Lokonda, O. M.;Budjo, F.
Published
2014
Abstract
Carbon sequestered in vegetation and soil is important in the removal of excess carbon in the atmosphere. However, while the quantification of vegetation C-stocks is a topic of interest, less data is available on soil C, especially in the tropics. We evaluated soil carbon stocks (C) in the top 0-10 cm surface layer at Lenda1 -Forest Dynamic Plot (FDP) in Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo. Surface soil samples (0-10 cm depth) were collected along a 20 m x 20 m grid in 10 ha plot. Samples were air-dried and brought to the United States (Harvard Forest, Harvard University) for analysis of soil total carbon and other nutrients. The total amount of soil carbon sequestered in this surface layer was quantified using both a traditional and a Geographic Information System (GIS) based approaches. Results showed that the 0-10 cm soil surface layer sequesters between 145 to 1,306 tons C/ha, depending on the approach of calculation. Further studies are needed for a full assessment of soil carbon in different horizons (20-100 cm) of this soil. This study was conducted at Lenda 1 Forest Dynamics Plots (FDP) in the Okapi Faunal Reserve (OFR), Ituri Forest, Democratic Republic of Congo. Lenda-1 Forest Dynamics Plot is located at the north of Lenda2, at 1 o 19' N latitude and 28 o 38' E longitude. The average annual rainfall at the Okapi Faunal Reserve administrative center is about 1600 mm, with a maximum of 2100 mm and a minimum of 1300 mm. The dry season lasts 3-4 months. The average annual maximum temperature is 25 o C. The topography of the area is gentle, with occasional rolling hills containing exposed patches of shallow rocky soil (Hart, 1995). Plots are located approximately 750 m above sea level and the elevation range from 700 to 850 m. The 10ha Forest Dynamic plot at Lenda 1 contains about 145 to 1,306 tons C in its top 0-10 cm layer if simple statistics (Min, Max, Mean) are used to calculate such soil carbon storage However, if a more refine GIS approach is used, C sequestered in this 0-10 cm falls between 202 to 408 tons for the 10 ha plot. Policy makers are urged to include soil carbon in negotiations for REDD projects.
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PUB15272