Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Assessment of soil carbon stock and its relation to land use patterns and climate variability in Semiarid regions of Rajasthan

Auteur : Sharma, Garima

Université de soutenance : Central University of Rajasthan

Grade : Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2018

Résumé partiel
Soil organic carbon stocks are powerfully operated by the change in land cover and climate. In the present study we investigated the impact of land use change and climate change on soil carbon stock in Pushkar valley region of Rajasthan. Pushkar valley of Rajasthan comes under semi arid region. Semi arid region are severely degraded ecosystems around the world and has the highest potential for increasing soil carbon content. In the first objective, we determined impact of land use type on soil carbon stocks and other physico-chemical properties of soil in Pushkar valley region. Estimating carbon stock in soil and its distribution is a essential step towards projecting enhancement of carbon sequestration to increase soil fertility as well as mitigating carbon dioxide level in atmosphere. Measuring biomass of the natural forests is necessary for assessing loss of carbon with land use conversion process. Therefore, second objective of the study is to calculate and comparing the carbon stocks of trees, shrubs and herbs species in five land use patterns. Determining potential of carbon storage in different plant species with their natural habitat has benefit in habitat management practices and choosing appropriate species for reforestation programme. Also there is increasing interest in assessing the relationship between carbon stock and biodiversity. Therefore, the objectives of the study was also to estimate biodiversity indices and structural pararmeters and their relationship with carbon stock. Third objectives of the current study were to assess land use change dynamics by using multi-temporal images from 1993 to 2014, and to determine effect of land use changes on soil carbon stock in Pushkar valley region of Rajasthan. Global Climate change may have potential impact on both SOC stock and carbon sequestration capacity in soil. To assess soil carbon stock and carbon dynamics models are effective tools. To understand impact of climatic variability on soil carbon stock and predicting soil carbon stock in future climate scenarios is crucial for implementation of adaptation strategies to mitigate impact of climate change. Impact of climate change on SOC stocks differ under different land uses. Each land use represents different soil properties and thus shows varied susceptibility to climate change.

Présentation et version intégrale (Shodhganga)