Spatial Variation of Soil Organic Carbon and Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential using Geostatistical Method in the Domain District of Biswanath Chariali, Assam

Abstract

The present research was aimed to estimate the spatial variability of soil organic carbon and their sequestration potential in the part of Bishwanaath, Chariali district of Assam. The sample was collected from marked sample points representing variability of soil type and crops grown. The collected samples were analysed for Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and further SOC sequestration potential was derived based on this analysed SOC and CSP interpolation method deriving data in unsampled point. Geostatistical method viz., ordinary Kriging was employed for the detailed spatial distribution of SOC, CSP and interpolation map of SOC and CSP were generated. From the generated map it was revealed that SOC was lowest at the western part of study sites whereas the CSP is lowest at two spot where intensive cultivation of rice were practised since long time resulting comparatively less SOC build-up in the soil system. The remaining part of domain district were of medium to higher CSP potential. This difference in spatial variability in SOC and CSP might be due to the variation in soil physical properties specially bulk density of the respective soil sites. The Nugget to Sill ratio was quite high in CSP that indicating the management factor plays a very important role in soil carbon sequestration potential.