Effects of vegetation's degradation on carbon stock, morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of soils within the mangrove forest of the Rio del Rey Estuary: Case study – Bamusso (South-West Cameroon)

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the capacity of mangroves soils to stock carbon and how degradation can influence its various properties. Transect method was performed. So, two transects of 100 m length and 10 m wide were established according to the degradation level. Total of 18 Soil samples were taken to be described and analysed. The degraded transect (T₁) shows a mean carbon stock value of 2102.06 ± 405 Mg.ha^-1 while natural (T₂) accumulate 2476.6 ± 409 Mg.ha^-1. Colour are more light inside the degraded transect (Brown to grayish) than the natural transect (brown to blackish) while spots are more colored in natural transect (gray and yellow) than degraded one (yellow). pH mean value showed that soils of degraded transect was more acidic than those of natural one. Organic matter amount was very high and proves that these soils can be valorized to agricultural activities without previous enrichment. Total Nitrogen was low in the two transects while the available phosphorus values showed that natural transect has more available phosphorus that can be used by the plants than degraded transect. So, degradation would take along reduction of available phosphorus rate in the soils. According to this result showing important different values of carbon stock and soils properties between natural and degraded transect, it is necessary to implement conservation methods in order to stop degradation and enhance capacity of mangroves soils properties.

Keywords: Bamusso, degraded transect, natural transect, soils, values