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International Journal of Soil Science

Year: 2010 | Volume: 5 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 34-40
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Authors

N. Brahim

M. Bernoux

D. Blavet

T. Gallali

Keywords

Research Article

Tunisian Soil Organic Carbon Stocks

N. Brahim, M. Bernoux, D. Blavet and T. Gallali
This study has two aims, the first, to analyze the spatial distribution of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in Tunisia, second, to estimate carbon stocks for major soil types representative of Mediterranean drylands. Repartition of SOC stocks at the depth of 0.3 to 1 m were estimated for Tunisia, using a soil map combined with the results from a soil database. In addition, the total SOC stocks in the 0-30 cm and 0-100 cm soil depth were estimated for Tunisia using a digital soil map combined with results from a soil database. Tunisia contains nine main soil classes. The entire soil database totaled 1483 soil profiles corresponding to 5024 soil horizons. This dataset was built from previous analytical results published from Tunisian soil surveys (1960-2006). Most bulk density values were estimated using pedotransfer functions. Results showed that the upper soil layer 0-30 cm contains 405.44 TgC (1 Tg = 1012 g), while that in the 0-100 cm soil depth was estimated to be 1006.71 TgC. Estimates by soil types showed that the highest SOC stocks was estimated for Luvisols to 7.16 and 15.92 kgCm-2 for 0-30 cm and 0-100 cm, respectively. The lowest SOC stocks were estimated for the Lithosols to 1.84 kgCm-2 at 0-30 cm and 4.04 kgCm-2 for 0-100 cm. The soil types most representative in extension in Tunisia were the Lithosols, Regosols and the Cambisols and stocks were estimated to 73.22, 119.83 and 100.35 TgC, respectively. Tunisian SOC density in the surface layer 0-30 cm is 2.612 kgCm-2 and 6.486 kgCm-2 within the 0-100 cm depth.
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