Abstract
Wetlands provide several ecosystem services including carbon capture and storage, water filtration, nutrient cycling, and support agriculture among others. The biogeochemical process and decomposition parameters in ‘Fadama' wetland soils comprising of Gada biyu, Pwomol and Kpang referred to as sites A, B, and C respectively all of Heipang District in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State was investigated using standard operating procedures (SOP). Results of investigations revealed that soils from Kpang had slightly higher water content (34.52%) than those from Pwomol (33.48%) and Gada biyu (32.03%). While soils from Gada biyu had the highest solid organic matter (SOM) (10.79%) followed by Pwomol (8.15%) as Kpang had the least (7.85%). Gada biyu soils had the lowest Phenol oxidases activity (1536.56 nmol dicq g-1 h-1) while those from Pwomol (5340.44 nmol dicq g-1 h-1) was highest. All sites had similar concentrations of soil phenolics (76.58 µg g-1, 79.98µg g-1, and 83.25µg g-1). The activity of hydrolyses (β-glucosidase) in Gada biyu soil (2.93 nmol g-1 min-1) was lower than those from Pwomol (6.13 nmol g-1 min-1). These parameters indicate the level of biogeochemical processes in the soil at each site. Gada biyu had the highest rate of CH4 (0.84 ug g-1h-1) flux. Decomposition of organic matter, carbon cycling and greenhouse gas storage in wetland soil, is due to the anoxic condition comprising of low oxygen availability, cool temperatures, anaerobic conditions, reduced microbial activity, and the quality of organic matter substrates in such soils. Anthropogenic disturbances affecting wetlands must be discouraged to promote vital ecosystem services.
Highlights
Wetlands are biologically complex environments due to the biogeochemical and physical processes associated with such soil settings (Mitsch & Gosselink, 2015)
The discharge of sequestered greenhouse gases (GHGs) from wetland soil is due to increased microbial activities which could be attributed to several varying environmental conditions resulting in high decomposition of soil organic matter
Investigations of parameters of microbial soil decomposition in this study revealed a slow rate of biogeochemical processes across the three sites as it was characterised by low soil water and solid organic matter (SOM) contents, soil enzymes activity, soil phenolics as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes (Figures 1-5) making these wetlands an excellent medium for moderating the effects of rising climatic temperatures
Summary
Wetlands are biologically complex environments due to the biogeochemical and physical processes associated with such soil settings (Mitsch & Gosselink, 2015). The discharge of sequestered greenhouse gases (GHGs) from wetland soil is due to increased microbial activities which could be attributed to several varying environmental conditions resulting in high decomposition of soil organic matter. Such environmental conditions could include water table, soil texture, presence of atmospheric oxygen, pH, temperature, leaf litter materials, and availability of microbes (Limpens et al, 2008; Kayranli et al, 2010). Updegraff et al (2001) posited that several climate change models forecast warmer and drier climatic conditions globally This scenario could result in a serious water drawdown thereby influencing the biogeochemical processes in the soil resulting in high rates of organic matter decomposition. Mcleod et al (2011) and Adame et al (2015) noted that rising level of CO2 in the atmosphere is as a result of increased deforestation which has resulted in degrading vital ecosystem services
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