Distribution of soil carbon and nitrogen under primary and cultivated forests in Aceh Besar, Indonesia

Abstract Deforestation is one of the factors causing environmental degradation that can accelerate climate change. The study aimed to evaluate the distribution of carbon and nitrogen under primary and cultivated forests in the drylands of Aceh Besar, Indonesia. Six types of forest vegetation were studied, namely natural forest in the form of primary forest (PrF), secondary forest (ScF), forest bushes (FoB), cultivated forest in the form of pine forest (PiF), eucalyptus forest (EuF), and teak forest (TeF). Five to eght representative locations were selected for each type of forest studied. Soil samples were taken at seven soil depths from 0-100 cm according to SNI standards. The total C and N content of the soil in the dry land of Aceh Besar under primary forest is higher than under other forest vegetation, both secondary forest and shrub forest as well as cultivated forest such as pine forest, Eucalyptus forest, and teak forest. The primary forest type has great potential as a soil C store that can function as a source of soil organic matter and nitrogen for producing biomass and crop yields.