Pedo-ecological significance of soil organic carbon stock in south-eastern Pannonian basin

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in the South-eastern Panonnian Basin. For estimating the SOC stock 10 different soil types were accessed with 400 soil profiles representing different locations in Vojvodina at 0-30, 30-60 and 60-100 cm depths. Three factors were taken into consideration, soil type being the one with the largest influence on the SOC content. Data collected were plotted on a map by using the Ordinary Kriging method. The results showed differences between soil types and soil depths. At 0-100 cm soil depth, the highest SOC levels were found in Regosols, Vertisols, Gleysols and Chernozems and the lowest in Solonchaks, Fluvisols and Arenosols. On the total of 1,807,073 ha examined, the SOC reserves at 0-30 cm depth were estimated to 122 Mt, whereas total stock in 0-100 cm soil layer was 270 Mt. The results obtained could be valuable for monitoring SOC change and to recommend measures for the conservation of SOC.