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Characterization of Soil Carbon Stocks in the City of Johannesburg

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  • Kelebohile Rose Seboko

    (Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa)

  • Elmarie Kotze

    (Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa)

  • Johan van Tol

    (Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa)

  • George van Zijl

    (Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa)

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a crucial indicator of soil health and soil productivity. The long-term implications of rapid urbanization on sustainability have, in recent years, raised concern. This study aimed to characterize the SOC stocks in the Johannesburg Granite Dome, a highly urbanized and contaminated area. Six soil hydropedological groups; (recharge (deep), recharge (shallow), responsive (shallow), responsive (saturated), interflow (A/B), and interflow (soil/bedrock)) were identified to determine the vertical distribution of the SOC stocks and assess the variation among the soil groups. The carbon (C) content, bulk density, and soil depth were determined for all soil groups, and thereafter the SOC stocks were calculated. Organic C stocks in the A horizon ranged, on average, from 33.55 ± 21.73 t C ha −1 for recharge (deep) soils to 17.11 ± 7.62 t C ha −1 for responsive (shallow) soils. Higher C contents in some soils did not necessarily indicate higher SOC stocks due to the combined influence of soil depth and bulk density. Additionally, the total SOC stocks ranged from 92.82 ± 39.2 t C ha −1 for recharge (deep) soils to 22.81 ± 16.84 t C ha −1 for responsive (shallow) soils. Future studies should determine the SOC stocks in urban areas, taking diverse land-uses and the presence of iron (Fe) oxides into consideration. This is crucial for understanding urban ecosystem functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelebohile Rose Seboko & Elmarie Kotze & Johan van Tol & George van Zijl, 2021. "Characterization of Soil Carbon Stocks in the City of Johannesburg," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:1:p:83-:d:482101
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haroldo V. Ribeiro & Diego Rybski & Jürgen P. Kropp, 2019. "Effects of changing population or density on urban carbon dioxide emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaco Kotzé & Johan van Tol, 2023. "Extrapolation of Digital Soil Mapping Approaches for Soil Organic Carbon Stock Predictions in an Afromontane Environment," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.

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