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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
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MDPI
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176687 |
| _version_ | 1855513624658837504 |
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| author | Rotich, B. Szegi, T. Gelsleichter, Y.A. Fuchs, M. Ocansey, C.M. Phenson, J.N. Abdulkadir, M. Kipkulei, H. Wawire, A. Mutuma, E. Mesele, S.A. Micheli, E. Csorba, A. |
| author_browse | Abdulkadir, M. Csorba, A. Fuchs, M. Gelsleichter, Y.A. Kipkulei, H. Mesele, S.A. Micheli, E. Mutuma, E. Ocansey, C.M. Phenson, J.N. Rotich, B. Szegi, T. Wawire, A. |
| author_facet | Rotich, B. Szegi, T. Gelsleichter, Y.A. Fuchs, M. Ocansey, C.M. Phenson, J.N. Abdulkadir, M. Kipkulei, H. Wawire, A. Mutuma, E. Mesele, S.A. Micheli, E. Csorba, A. |
| author_sort | Rotich, B. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| 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−1, while TNS varied from 8.89 ± 1.77 to 12.00 ± 2.46 Mg N ha−1. In subsoil (20–40 cm), SOCS ranged from 72.03 ± 19.90 to 132.23 ± 11.80 Mg C ha−1, with TNS varying between 5.71 ± 1.63 and 10.50 ± 1.90 Mg N ha−1. SOCS and TNS increased significantly with elevation (p < 0.05), exhibiting the following trend: Lower Forest < Middle Forest < Upper Forest. Topsoil consistently stored significantly higher SOCS than subsoil (p < 0.05), emphasizing the critical role of surface soils in carbon sequestration. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between SOCS and TNS (R2 = 0.84, p < 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 | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace176687 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1766872025-12-08T10:29:22Z Variation in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks across elevation gradients and Soil depths in the mount Kenya East Forest Rotich, B. Szegi, T. Gelsleichter, Y.A. Fuchs, M. Ocansey, C.M. Phenson, J.N. Abdulkadir, M. Kipkulei, H. Wawire, A. Mutuma, E. Mesele, S.A. Micheli, E. Csorba, A. soil organic matter vegetation topsoil subsoil carbon sequestration sustainable forest management kenya 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−1, while TNS varied from 8.89 ± 1.77 to 12.00 ± 2.46 Mg N ha−1. In subsoil (20–40 cm), SOCS ranged from 72.03 ± 19.90 to 132.23 ± 11.80 Mg C ha−1, with TNS varying between 5.71 ± 1.63 and 10.50 ± 1.90 Mg N ha−1. SOCS and TNS increased significantly with elevation (p < 0.05), exhibiting the following trend: Lower Forest < Middle Forest < Upper Forest. Topsoil consistently stored significantly higher SOCS than subsoil (p < 0.05), emphasizing the critical role of surface soils in carbon sequestration. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between SOCS and TNS (R2 = 0.84, p < 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. 2025 2025-09-26T09:24:19Z 2025-09-26T09:24:19Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176687 en Open Access application/pdf MDPI Rotich, B., Szegi, T., Gelsleichter, Y.A., Fuchs, M., Ocansey, C.M., Phenson, J.N., ... & Csorba, A. (2025). Variation in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks across elevation gradients and soil depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest. Land, 14(6): 1217, 1-17. |
| spellingShingle | soil organic matter vegetation topsoil subsoil carbon sequestration sustainable forest management kenya Rotich, B. Szegi, T. Gelsleichter, Y.A. Fuchs, M. Ocansey, C.M. Phenson, J.N. Abdulkadir, M. Kipkulei, H. Wawire, A. Mutuma, E. Mesele, S.A. Micheli, E. Csorba, A. Variation in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks across elevation gradients and Soil depths in the mount Kenya East Forest |
| 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 topsoil subsoil carbon sequestration sustainable forest management kenya |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176687 |
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