Variation in Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Stocks Across Elevation Gradients and Soil Depths in the Mount Kenya East Forest

Brian Rotich, Tamás Szegi (), Yuri Andrei Gelsleichter, Márta Fuchs, Caleb Melenya Ocansey, Justine Nsima Phenson, Mustapha Abdulkadir, Harison Kipkulei, Amos Wawire, Evans Mutuma, Samuel Ayodele Mesele, Erika Michéli and Ádám Csorba
Additional contact information
Brian Rotich: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Tamás Szegi: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Yuri Andrei Gelsleichter: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Márta Fuchs: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Caleb Melenya Ocansey: CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Kumasi P.O. Box 3785, Ghana
Justine Nsima Phenson: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Mustapha Abdulkadir: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Harison Kipkulei: Institute of Geography, Faculty of Applied Computer Sciences, University of Augsburg, Alter Postweg 118, 86159 Augsburg, Germany
Amos Wawire: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Karatina University, Karatina P.O. Box 1957-10101, Kenya
Evans Mutuma: Faculty of Environmental Studies and Resources Development, Chuka University, Chuka P.O. Box 109-60400, Kenya
Samuel Ayodele Mesele: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan 200001, Nigeria
Erika Michéli: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Ádám Csorba: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, H-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: Understanding how elevation gradients and soil depths influence soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) and total nitrogen stocks (TNS) is essential for sustainable forest management (SFM) and climate change mitigation. This study investigated the effects of elevation and soil depth on SOCS and TNS in the Mount Kenya East Forest (MKEF). A stratified systematic sampling approach was applied, involving collection of 38 soil samples from two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) across three elevation zones: Lower Forest (1700–2000 m), Middle Forest (2000–2350 m), and Upper Forest (2350–2650 m). Samples were analysed for bulk density (BD), pH, texture, soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN), using standard laboratory methods. In topsoil (0–20 cm), SOCS ranged from 109.28 ± 23.41 to 151.27 ± 17.61 Mg C ha −1 , while TNS varied from 8.89 ± 1.77 to 12.00 ± 2.46 Mg N ha −1 . In subsoil (20–40 cm), SOCS ranged from 72.03 ± 19.90 to 132.23 ± 11.80 Mg C ha −1 , with TNS varying between 5.71 ± 1.63 and 10.50 ± 1.90 Mg N ha −1 . SOCS and TNS increased significantly with elevation ( p < 0.05), exhibiting the following trend: Lower Forest < Middle Forest < Upper Forest. Topsoil consistently stored significantly higher SOCS than subsoil ( p < 0.05), emphasizing the critical role of surface soils in carbon sequestration. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between SOCS and TNS (R 2 = 0.84, p < 0.001). Both SOCS and TNS were positively correlated with elevation, SOC, TN, and total annual precipitation (TAP), but negatively correlated with BD and mean annual temperature (MAT). These findings provide baseline data for monitoring SOCS and TNS in the MKEF, offering insights into sustainable forest management strategies to improve soil health and enhance climate change mitigation efforts.

Keywords: soil organic matter; vegetation type; environmental variables; topsoil; subsoil; carbon sequestration; sustainable forest management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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