Variation in the chemical composition and physical characteristics of grain from winter barley varieties

Abstract

Abstract. The storage of carbon in the soil helps to sustain the ecosystem of our environment. However, this study was to determine the differences in carbon forms (total carbon, organic carbon and inorganic carbon) under selected forest and pasture land use types in Abia State, Nigeria. Two profile pits were sung on each of the land use types using free survey technique. The profile pits were sampled based on horizon differentiation for routine and special laboratory analyses. The data obtained were statistically analyzed for coefficient of variation and correlation. Total carbon had mean of 2.07% and 2.12% for profiles 1 and 2 under pasture land use and 2.46% and 2.45% for profiles 3 and 4 under forested land use. Organic carbon as indicated by the mean was higher in forest land (profile 3=1.85%, profile 4=2.09%) than in pasture land (profile 1=1.37%, profile 2=1.40%) while inorganic carbon was higher in pasture land (profile 1=0.70%, profile 2=0.72%) over forest land (profile 3= 0.39 %, profile 4= 0.36 %). Organic carbon had high variation (≥45.97% ≤ 49.38%) in profiles of the pastured land use while it had low – moderate variation (≥12.55% ≤ 27.03%) in profiles of forested land use. Also, inorganic carbon recorded moderate variation (≥16.12% ≤ 25.95%) in profiles of pasture and forest land use types. The forest land use type was determined to contain more forms of carbon when compared with the pasture land use type.

Keywords

• forest and pasture land
• carbon storage
• climate change
• horizon