Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest
Understanding how elevation gradients and soil depths influence soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) and total nitrogen stocks (TNS) is essential for sustainable forest management (SFM) and climate change mitigation. This study investigated the effects of elevation and soil depth on SOCS and TNS in the...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Brian Rotich Tamás Szegi Yuri Andrei Gelsleichter Márta Fuchs Caleb Melenya Ocansey Justine Nsima Phenson Mustapha Abdulkadir Harison Kipkulei Amos Wawire Evans Mutuma Samuel Ayodele Mesele Erika Michéli Ádám Csorba |
| author_facet | Brian Rotich Tamás Szegi Yuri Andrei Gelsleichter Márta Fuchs Caleb Melenya Ocansey Justine Nsima Phenson Mustapha Abdulkadir Harison Kipkulei Amos Wawire Evans Mutuma Samuel Ayodele Mesele Erika Michéli Ádám Csorba |
| author_sort | Brian Rotich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding how elevation gradients and soil depths influence soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) and total nitrogen stocks (TNS) is essential for sustainable forest management (SFM) and climate change mitigation. This study investigated the effects of elevation and soil depth on SOCS and TNS in the Mount Kenya East Forest (MKEF). A stratified systematic sampling approach was applied, involving collection of 38 soil samples from two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) across three elevation zones: Lower Forest (1700–2000 m), Middle Forest (2000–2350 m), and Upper Forest (2350–2650 m). Samples were analysed for bulk density (BD), pH, texture, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN), using standard laboratory methods. In topsoil (0–20 cm), SOCS ranged from 109.28 ± 23.41 to 151.27 ± 17.61 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup>, while TNS varied from 8.89 ± 1.77 to 12.00 ± 2.46 Mg N ha<sup>−1</sup>. In subsoil (20–40 cm), SOCS ranged from 72.03 ± 19.90 to 132.23 ± 11.80 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup>, with TNS varying between 5.71 ± 1.63 and 10.50 ± 1.90 Mg N ha<sup>−1</sup>. SOCS and TNS increased significantly with elevation (<i>p</i> < 0.05), exhibiting the following trend: Lower Forest < Middle Forest < Upper Forest. Topsoil consistently stored significantly higher SOCS than subsoil (<i>p</i> < 0.05), emphasizing the critical role of surface soils in carbon sequestration. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between SOCS and TNS (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.84, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Both SOCS and TNS were positively correlated with elevation, SOC, TN, and total annual precipitation (TAP), but negatively correlated with BD and mean annual temperature (MAT). These findings provide baseline data for monitoring SOCS and TNS in the MKEF, offering insights into sustainable forest management strategies to improve soil health and enhance climate change mitigation efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b6cdffa593f4a19a24d48d9b7d0d5e6 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-3b6cdffa593f4a19a24d48d9b7d0d5e62025-06-25T14:04:45ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-06-01146121710.3390/land14061217Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East ForestBrian Rotich0Tamás Szegi1Yuri Andrei Gelsleichter2Márta Fuchs3Caleb Melenya Ocansey4Justine Nsima Phenson5Mustapha Abdulkadir6Harison Kipkulei7Amos Wawire8Evans Mutuma9Samuel Ayodele Mesele10Erika Michéli11Ádám Csorba12Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryCSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi P.O. Box 3785, GhanaInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Geography, Faculty of Applied Computer Sciences, University of Augsburg, Alter Postweg 118, 86159 Augsburg, GermanyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Karatina University, Karatina P.O. Box 1957-10101, KenyaFaculty of Environmental Studies and Resources Development, Chuka University, Chuka P.O. Box 109-60400, KenyaInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, NigeriaInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, HungaryUnderstanding how elevation gradients and soil depths influence soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) and total nitrogen stocks (TNS) is essential for sustainable forest management (SFM) and climate change mitigation. This study investigated the effects of elevation and soil depth on SOCS and TNS in the Mount Kenya East Forest (MKEF). A stratified systematic sampling approach was applied, involving collection of 38 soil samples from two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) across three elevation zones: Lower Forest (1700–2000 m), Middle Forest (2000–2350 m), and Upper Forest (2350–2650 m). Samples were analysed for bulk density (BD), pH, texture, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN), using standard laboratory methods. In topsoil (0–20 cm), SOCS ranged from 109.28 ± 23.41 to 151.27 ± 17.61 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup>, while TNS varied from 8.89 ± 1.77 to 12.00 ± 2.46 Mg N ha<sup>−1</sup>. In subsoil (20–40 cm), SOCS ranged from 72.03 ± 19.90 to 132.23 ± 11.80 Mg C ha<sup>−1</sup>, with TNS varying between 5.71 ± 1.63 and 10.50 ± 1.90 Mg N ha<sup>−1</sup>. SOCS and TNS increased significantly with elevation (<i>p</i> < 0.05), exhibiting the following trend: Lower Forest < Middle Forest < Upper Forest. Topsoil consistently stored significantly higher SOCS than subsoil (<i>p</i> < 0.05), emphasizing the critical role of surface soils in carbon sequestration. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between SOCS and TNS (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.84, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Both SOCS and TNS were positively correlated with elevation, SOC, TN, and total annual precipitation (TAP), but negatively correlated with BD and mean annual temperature (MAT). These findings provide baseline data for monitoring SOCS and TNS in the MKEF, offering insights into sustainable forest management strategies to improve soil health and enhance climate change mitigation efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1217soil organic mattervegetation typeenvironmental variablestopsoilsubsoilcarbon sequestration |
| spellingShingle | Brian Rotich Tamás Szegi Yuri Andrei Gelsleichter Márta Fuchs Caleb Melenya Ocansey Justine Nsima Phenson Mustapha Abdulkadir Harison Kipkulei Amos Wawire Evans Mutuma Samuel Ayodele Mesele Erika Michéli Ádám Csorba Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest Land soil organic matter vegetation type environmental variables topsoil subsoil carbon sequestration |
| title | Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest |
| title_full | Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest |
| title_fullStr | Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest |
| title_short | Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest |
| title_sort | variation in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks across elevation gradients and soil depths in the mount kenya east forest |
| topic | soil organic matter vegetation type environmental variables topsoil subsoil carbon sequestration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/6/1217 |
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