Effects of altitude, aspect, and soil depth on carbon stocks and properties of soils in a tea plantation in the humid Black Sea region

Abstract

Physiographic factors effectively alter soil properties and carbon storage. However, previous research on the effect of topographic factors affecting soil properties on carbon stocks in tea plantations has been limited in the humid Black Sea region. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of elevation, aspect, and soil depth on carbon stocks and soil properties of tea plantations in the Black Sea region. The tea plantations in the research area were divided into two elevation steps and two different aspect groups. Twelve soil sampling plots were then determined according to the stratified random sampling method in each elevation and aspect group; soil samples were taken at 0-10 cm and 10-30 cm soil depths. The amount of carbon stored at a soil depth of 30 cm was found to be 49.38 and 32.36 Mg C ha(-1) at the upper and lower altitudes, respectively. Highest carbon density in the tea plantations in the research area was found to be 16.34 kg m(-3) at a depth of 0-10 cm. The changes in the soil organic carbon (SOC) values according to elevation and soil depth were statistically significant, while the difference among the carbon storage values was not statistically significant. According to the results of our investigation, elevation is a more effective factor than aspect on SOC in tea plantation areas of highly humid climates.