Assessment of the Soil Organic Carbon Stock (SOCS) of Foumban (West Cameroon)

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to assess the organic carbon stock and the amount of organic carbon sequestered in the soils of Foumban, in order to facilitate climate change mitigation policies. To achieve this objective, ninety soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-30cm from the reference soil groups identified in the study area and transported to the laboratory where bulk density and organic carbon analyses were carried out to estimate the SOC stock. The SOC stock and carbon quantity calculations showed that the carbon stock in the soils of the study area varies from 64.10 t/ha in FRAGISOLS (plaggic) cambic to 116.52 t/ha in UMBRISOLS pretic, with an overall average of 88.95 ± 18.61 t/ha. The total amount of organic carbon stored in the soils is estimated to be about 85.79×10 − 4 GT. It varies from 1.30×10 − 4 GT in cambic hortic FERRALSOLS (plaggic) on trachytes to 17.13×10 − 4 GT in chernic arenic UMBRISOLS. The variation in carbon stock in the study area would be due to the variation in the density of the vegetation cover. The input of organic amendments would contribute to the increase of organic carbon stocks in these soils.