Altitudinal Variation Of Soil Organic Carbon Stock In Achanakmar

The Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere reserve is one of the premium Biosphere reserves of India. The human induced agricultural and cultivation practices in forest lands of Achanakmar not only affect the genetic diversity conservation but also affect the storage of carbon stocks.The present paper deals with measuring the SOC stocks along different sites and altitudinal gradients in Mixed Sal Forests of Bilaspur District of Achanakmar. The stocks of SOC were found to be decreasing with decreasing altitude and Significant variations across different altitudinal sites and depths were observed (significance at 0.05% level of probability). The present study calls for the development of sustainable forest management practices against human influences especially along the lower altitudinal gradients where lower carbon stocks and vulnerability of carbon loss have been found.