Influence of Slope Gradient and Aspect on Soil Organic Carbon Content in the Region of Niš, Serbia

Snežana Jakšić, Jordana Ninkov, Stanko Milić, Jovica Vasin, Milorad Živanov, Darko Jakšić and Vedrana Komlen
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Snežana Jakšić: Laboratory for Soil and Agroecology, Institute of Filed and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Jordana Ninkov: Laboratory for Soil and Agroecology, Institute of Filed and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Stanko Milić: Laboratory for Soil and Agroecology, Institute of Filed and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Jovica Vasin: Laboratory for Soil and Agroecology, Institute of Filed and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Milorad Živanov: Laboratory for Soil and Agroecology, Institute of Filed and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Darko Jakšić: Center for Viticulture and Oenology, Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 84, 11111 Belgrade, Serbia
Vedrana Komlen: Agromediterranean Faculty, Univerzitetski Kampus, Džemal Bijedic University of Mostar, 88104 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Topography-induced microclimate differences determine the local spatial variation of soil characteristics as topographic factors may play the most essential role in changing the climatic pattern. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) with respect to the slope gradient and aspect, and to quantify their influence on SOC within different land use/cover classes. The study area is the Region of Niš in Serbia, which is characterized by complex topography with large variability in the spatial distribution of SOC. Soil samples at 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm were collected from different slope gradients and aspects in each of the three land use/cover classes. The results showed that the slope aspect significantly influenced the spatial distribution of SOC in the forest and vineyard soils, where N- and NW-facing soils had the highest level of organic carbon in the topsoil. There were no similar patterns in the uncultivated land. No significant differences were found in the subsoil. Organic carbon content was higher in the topsoil, regardless of the slope of the terrain. The mean SOC content in forest land decreased with increasing slope, but the difference was not statistically significant. In vineyards and uncultivated land, the SOC content was not predominantly determined by the slope gradient. No significant variations across slope gradients were found for all observed soil properties, except for available phosphorus and potassium. A positive correlation was observed between SOC and total nitrogen, clay, silt, and available phosphorus and potassium, while a negative correlation with coarse sand was detected. The slope aspect in relation to different land use/cover classes could provide an important reference for land management strategies in light of sustainable development.

Keywords: soil organic carbon; topography; slope gradient; slope aspect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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