I have worked with red-laterite and alluvial soil, where i found that red soil contained more carbon than alluvial one. Red soil was collected from grassy land and the alluvial one from cultivated area. Though we know that red soil generally have less carbon. So what is the reason behind this? Is the grassy condition only factor?
Redlateritic soil originate under high temperature and hight moisture conditions. It is poor in organic matter status compared to an alluvial soil. Check up for the sampling error in collecting the soil samples as it is unusual that carbon content of redlaterite soil exceeds over that for alluvial soil. Biosphere is active in alluvial soil being highly receptive and homely for flora and fauna as compared to a redlateritic soil.
thank you. But i did no mistake during sampling and i collected laterite soil from grassy land. Generally grassy soil contain higher amount of carbon, that's why laterite soil may contain higher amount of carbon.And one thing about alluvial soil, it was highly cultivated. So the alluvial soil may contain lesser amount of carbon.
The cultivation intensity being common between redlateritic and alluvial soils, which soil type contains more carbon, would be an appropriate question to be fair. Rapid oxidation of organic matter occurs from a redlateritic soil than that for alluvial soil, given the climatic conditions underwhich these two are formed.
Grasses being C4 plants are efficient user of photosynthetic pathway and consequently accumulate more carbohydrates on shorter turnovers. A comparison of productivity: biomass ratio in both plots shall answer the question well. You may use simple harvest method to prove the same if the vegetation type is chiefly herbaceous.
alluvial soil is not be a only factor that it contain high organic carbon as compare to red laterite soil. I think you are from West Bengal and for your information I like to mention you that in some cases we find high organic carbon in lateritic part of Burdwan district than aluvial part. In most cases lateritic soil have low cropping intensity ( in some cases no cropping)as compare to alluvial soil due to scarcity of water . Soil texture is also a important factor. Sandy to sandy loam soil have less organic carbon whatever may be its origin. You do not mention depth of sampling. If you go just beyond the plow layer then picture may be reverse.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Agriculture
- Soil Science