Soil Carbon Storage as Influenced by Land Use Types in Akure Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the effect of land use on carbon storage in Akure forest reserve. The study site was stratified into three different land uses (Natural forest, Arable land and Cocoa agroforest). One hectare was marked out in each land use. Sixteen (16) sample plots of 25 m by 25 m was established randomly in each of the land use. Three (3) plots were randomly selected within each stratum. Soil samples were collected at three points diagonally on each plot along three different soil depths (0-15 cm, 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm) using soil auger. The samples were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. Result on soil type of the study sites were loamy sand except for Cocoa agroforestry land which was sandy loam at 30-45 cm soil depth. At 0-15 cm depth, arable land has the highest organic carbon (3.58 %) and organic matter content (6.18 %); followed by cocoa agroforest land, with 1.95 % organic carbon and 3.37 % organic matter content. Results at 15-30 cm and 30-45 cm depths followed similar pattern with the results obtained for 0-15 cm soil depth. At 0-15 cm soil depth, total carbon stock under arable land was 20394.00kg/ha followed by cocoa agroforest (17419.00kg/ha) and natural forest (6342.50kg/ha) respectively, while natural forest soil has the least value along the soil profile. The study therefore concluded that it is important to manage the different land uses such that they remain a carbon sink than a carbon source.