Estimating soil carbon storage and mitigation under temperate coniferous forests in the southern region of Kashmir Himalayas

Soil physical and chemical properties were quantified to assess soil organic carbon (SOC) density (t ha⁻¹) and SOC CO2 mitigation (t ha⁻¹) under six forest strata Cedrus deodara (closed) (S1), Cedrus deodara (open) (S2), Abies pindrow-Picea smithiana (closed) (S3), Abies pindrow-Picea smithiana (open) (S4), Pinus wallichiana (closed) (S5) and Pinus wallichiana (open) (S6) in the southern region of Kashmir Himalayas India. Lowest average bulk density (Db) of 0.95 was found same in S3 (σ ± 0.07) and S5 (σ ± 0.09) and highest Db (1.08) was observed in S2 (σ ± 0.05). A relatively higher coarse fraction was observed in all the six strata ranging from 19.23 (SD ± 4.66) in S3 to 29.37 (σ ± 6.12) in S6. Soil pH ranged from 6.09 (σ ± 0.64) in S4 to 6.97 (σ ± 0.53) in S2. The region under biotic interference has observed significant deforestation and degradation in the past two decades leading to lower SOC% values compared to other studies in the adjoining regions of Indian Himalayas and temperate coniferous forests in general. SOC% values were observed to range from 1.03 (σ ± 0.22) in S2 to 2.25 (σ ± 0.23) in S3. SOC density ranged between 25.11 (σ ± 5.41) t ha⁻¹ in S2 and 51.93 (σ ± 5.24) t ha⁻¹ in S3. SOC CO2 mitigation density was found highest 190.59 (σ ± 19.23) t ha⁻¹ in S3 and lowest 92.16 (σ ± 19.86) t ha⁻¹ in S2. A significant variation was observed in SOC density within strata. SOC density values in closed strata in general exceed to those in open strata. Primary results indicate that the average SOC stock for all the strata is low due to continuous biotic pressure in the last two decades making it a potential region for SOC buildup under plus options of REDD + (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) which includes conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon (C) stocks.