Influence of contrasting land-use types on organic C accumulation in a sandy loam soil

Abstract

This research were to investigate the influence of land use types affecting microbial activity and C accumulation in a sandy loam soil. The study site was located at the Agricultural Training and Research Center, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Thailand, consisting of 3 experimental areas with different soil management methods as follows: 1) Floriculture (tillage area), 2) Bamboo field (planted forest), and 3) Meadow (natural grass fields). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications was employed. Soil sampling was done at five-time intervals (early March – July 2018). The results of the study showed that the flowering plots with intensive tillage combined with chemical fertilizers resulting in the lowest MBC (49-94 mg C kg^-1), lowest total organic carbon (TOC) (2.8-4.7 g kg^-1) and lowest microbial quotient (MBC/TOC) (11.8-21.9 mg MBC g^-1 soil C), but resulting in highest metabolic quotient (qCO2) (0.39-0.7 mg CO2-C g^-1 MBC d^-1) (P < 0.05) compared to the bamboo field and meadow. Our results showed that forest planting and natural grassland field resulting in soil organic C accumulation in sandy loam soil compared to the intensive tillage.