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Biogeosciences Discuss., 9, 7049-7071, 2012
www.biogeosciences-discuss.net/9/7049/2012/ doi:10.5194/bgd-9-7049-2012 © Author(s) 2012. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. |
A cost-efficient method to assess carbon stocks in tropical peat soil
1USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 271 Mast Rd., Durham NH 03824, USA
2Oregon State University, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife. Nash Hall Rm 104, Corvallis OR 97331, USA
3Center for International Forestry Research, Jalan CIFOR, Situ Gede, Bogor Barat 16115, Indonesia
4Bogor Agricultural University, Dept. of Geophysics and Meteorology, Jalan Meranti, Kampus IPB Darmaga Bogor 16680, Indonesia
5Universitas Tanjungpura, Center for Wetlands People and Biodiversity, Jalan Ahmad Yani, Pontianak 78124, West Kalimantan, Indonesia
6University of New Hampshire, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, Morse Hall 8, College Road, Durham NH 03824, USA
7Indonesian Institute of Sciences Research Center for Biology, Cibinong Science Center, Jalan, Raya Jakarta, Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, West Java, Indonesia
8CIMTROP, University of Palangka Raya, Kampus Tunjung Nyoho, Central Kalimantan 73111, Indonesia
9Bogor Agricultural University, Dept. of Soil Science and Land Management, Laboratory of Soil Biotechnology, Jalan Meranti, Kampus IPB Darmaga Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Abstract. Estimation of soil carbon stocks in tropical wetlands requires costly laboratory analyses and suitable facilities, which are often lacking in developing nations where most tropical wetlands are found. It is therefore beneficial to develop simple yet robust analytical tools to assess soil carbon stocks where financial and technical limitations are common. Here we use published and original data to describe soil carbon density (gC cm−3; Cd) as a function of bulk density (g dry soil cm−3; Bd), which can be used to estimate belowground carbon storage using Bd measurements only. Predicted carbon densities and stocks are compared with those obtained from direct carbon analysis for ten peat swamp forest stands in three national parks of Indonesia. Analysis of soil carbon density and bulk density from the literature indicated a strong linear relationship (Cd = Bd × 0.49 + 4.61, R2 = 0.96, n = 94) for soils with an organic C content >40%. As organic C content decreases, the relationship between Cd and Bd becomes less predictable as soil texture becomes an important determinant of Cd. The equation predicted soil C stocks to within 0.39% to 7.20% of observed values. When original data were included in the analysis, the revised equation: Cd = Bd × 0.48 + 4.28, R2 = 0.96, n = 678 was well within the 95% confidence intervals of the original equation, and tended to decrease Cd estimates slightly. We recommend this last equation for a rapid estimation of soil C stocks for well developed peat soils where C content >40%.
Citation: Warren, M. W., Kauffman, J. B., Murdiyarso, D., Anshari, G., Hergoualc'h, K., Kurnianto, S., Purbopuspito, J., Gusmayanti, E., Afifudin, M., Rahajoe, J., Alhamd, L., Limin, S., and Iswandi, A.: A cost-efficient method to assess carbon stocks in tropical peat soil, Biogeosciences Discuss., 9, 7049-7071, doi:10.5194/bgd-9-7049-2012, 2012.