Soil Biota, Soil Biological Activity, and Soil Carbon Storage in Different Land Uses in Northeast Thailand

抄録

Soil biota plays important roles in the storage of soil organic carbon and in the provision of many ecosystem services which significantly improve our well-being. Additionally, the soil respiration activity of soil microorganisms affects the dynamic release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. Assessing soil organisms as well as microorganism activity affecting carbon storage in the soil is essential to help understand and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate soil biota, soil biological activity, and soil carbon storage across different types of land use in the northeastern region of Thailand. Utilizing data derived from a case study of Ban Hua Bueng, Sai Mun Subdistrict, Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen Province, we focused on six land use types including the Ban Hua Bueng community forest (Fr); two sugarcane fields - one managed with burning and chemical fertilizers (Sc) and another employing soil conservation without chemical fertilizers (Sc-O); two cassava fields - one using tillage and chemical fertilizers (Cs) and another practicing soil conservation without chemical fertilizers (Cs- O); and a paddy field (Pd). The study monitored earthworms, soil microorganisms, soil respiration by microorganisms, and carbon storage in the soil across the different land use types. The study found significant differences in the population of earthworms and soil microorganisms which were greatest in the community forest, followed by the cassava field managed by conserving the soil without the use of chemical fertilizers. Community forests contained the greatest soil organic carbon levels among all land uses studied. Microbial respiration differed significantly across land use types. While the community forest had greater respiration rates than the agricultural fields and the paddy fields, the results were not significantly different.