Effect of Aspect and Altitude on Organic Carbon Pool in forest Soils of Ankola Taluka

The topographical factors such as aspect and altitude play an important role on carbon sequestration process and soil organic carbon pool in forest soil. The study was conducted in Ankola taluka of Uttara Kannada district to assess the effect of aspect and altitude in dense and sparse forest on soil organic carbon pool. The result indicated that the western and eastern aspects have positive influence on carbon sequestration in soils of both dense and sparse forest as compared to northern and southern aspect. The mid altitude (200-400 m) favored the SOC sequestration significantly higher followed by lower altitude (0-200 m) and least SOC pool was found in higher altitude (>400 m). On an average the SOC pool in dense forest, irrespective of the aspect mid altitude recorded higher SOC pool (185.17 t/ha) followed by lower and higher altitude as 152.86 t/ha and 148.79 t/ha respectively. Similarly on spares forest mid altitude recorded higher average SOC pool (174.59 t/ha) followed by lower (172.08 t/ha) and higher altitude (154.84 t/ha). Based on the result it is concluded that western and eastern aspect with mid altitude favored the carbon sequestration in soils of both dense and spares forest of Ankola taluka in Uttara Kannada district.