Study on the Patterns of Inorganic Carbon Content in Two Land use Types in the Semi-Arid Region, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India

Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) are the two important carbon reservoirs in the soils of semiarid regions. A total of 12 soil samples in each of the two study sites at two depths namely 0-10 cm and 10-30 cm were collected. SIC stock was variable and ranged from 0.8 to 2.23 % and maximum content was recorded in the subsurface layer in the Barren land. While higher SOC value was registered in the top surface layer in the cropland. Statistical ‘t’ test revealed significant difference in SIC distribution with depth as it increased with depth whereas SOC decreased with depth.