Pramila Khatri Chhetri

Assessment of Soil Quality Index and Soil Organic Carbon Stock: a Case Study of Different Land Uses, Elevation and Aspect in Upper Harpan Sub-watershed, Kaski, Nepal Pramila Khatri Chhetri

The research was carried out with the objective of assessing soil quality index and carbon stock under different land use, elevation and aspect. The major soil properties to assess soil quality index were soil textural class, soil pH, and soil organic carbon, Total Nitrogen, Available Phosphorus and Available Potassium. Stratified random sampling was carried out. Three samples were taken from each homogenous stratum at 20cm depth. Carbon stocks in different land uses were quantified at 20cm depth interval up to 60cm. The soil quality index varied from 0.60 to 0.83 being higher for Bari at North above 1200m elevation which indicated the good condition and lower for Khet at North above 1200m elevation which denoted the fair condition. Soil organic carbon stock decreased with depth for all land uses. Bari had higher SOC content (86.1ton/ha) while that of Khet was lower (51.2ton/ha).