The Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) at Forest Stands of Mount-Merbabu National Park and Upland Farming

Abstract

This study examines the characteristics of vegetation and SOC at forest stands of Mount-Merbabu National Park (Pine (Pinus merkusii), Puspa (Schima noronhae Theaceae), Acacia (Acacia decurren Fabaceae), Bintamin (Cupressus sp), and Mixed) and upland farming at a soil depth of 0-70 cm. Observations of characteristics of vegetation stands were made by observing plot units measuring 50 m x 50 m and three replicates, while the observations of SOC included: organic-C and bulk density soil at a depth of 0-70 cm and three replicate. The research data were analyzed descriptively, followed by the F-Test and DMRT Test at 5% level. The results showed that the SOC content decreased with increasing soil depth (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-50, 50-70 cm). At soil depth (0-70 cm), the highest SOC concentration and SOC stocks were in the Puspa (53.40 g C kg−1 or 437.18 ton C ha−1), followed by Mixed (50.01 g C kg−1 or 303.62 ton C ha−1), Bintamin (28.08 C kg−1 or 198.70 ton C ha−1), Acacia (24.39 g C kg−1 or 233.94 ton C ha−1), and the lowest is Pine (20.13 g C kg−1 or 150.83 ton C ha−1); while the upland farming (15.28 g C kg−1 or 103.38 ton C ha−1). Puspa can be recommended as a good type of revegetate plant.