ASSESSMENT OF SOIL CARBON FLUX ACROSS KAVIVARYA MOROPANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN OF TULJARAM CHATURCHAND COLLEGE, BARAMATI, INDIA USING A LOW-COST ALKALI ABSORPTION TECHNIQUE

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🔬研究者:Demonstrates a low-cost alkali absorption method for soil carbon flux measurement that can be replicated in other institutional settings.

🏢実務担当者:Campus sustainability managers can use this approach to assess carbon sequestration potential of green spaces and inform landscape management.

Urban and semi-urban green spaces, including college campuses and botanical gardens, are increasingly recognized for their role in climate change mitigation through regulation of soil carbon dynamics. The present study aimed to quantify soil carbon flux across five ecologically distinct zones of a college campus using a cost-effective alkali absorption technique, with emphasis on biological control of carbon emissions. The selected zones comprised a tree-dominated garden area, medicinal plant garden, lawn area, compost pit, and water/pot plant zone, representing variations in vegetation type and soil management practices. Soil carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emitted due to microbial respiration was captured using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) under a closed chamber system and quantified by titration with standard hydrochloric acid (HCl). Carbon flux was expressed as mg CO2 m- ² h- ¹. The results revealed marked spatial variability in soil carbon flux across the campus zones. Higher CO2 emissions were observed in the compost pit and lawn areas, indicating elevated microbial activity and rapid organic matter decomposition. In contrast, lower carbon flux values were recorded in the tree and medicinal plant zones, suggesting stable soil environments and enhanced carbon retention. From a biotechnological perspective, the variation in carbon flux can be attributed to differences in soil microbial metabolism, enzyme-mediated decomposition processes, and rhizospheric interactions influenced by vegetation structure. The study demonstrates that simple biochemical methods are effective for assessing soil carbon dynamics at an institutional scale. The findings underscore the potential of managed campus green spaces as localized carbon sinks and provide baseline data useful for sustainable campus planning, carbon accounting, and climate-resilient landscape management.

• openalex https://doi.org/10.53550/ajmbes.2026.v28.i3.011first seen 2026-07-19 05:02:58