FORMS OF ORGANIC CARBON IN SOILS FROM ETSAKO EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study focuses on the forms and distribution of organic carbon content in the soils of Etsako East Local Government Area. The soil samples were physically fractionated into labile organic carbon and recalcitrant organic carbon following standard methods in the laboratory to understand soil organic carbon dynamics and the effect on land use and selected physical-chemical properties of the soils were also determined. In all it was observed that the labile organic carbon accounted for 13 percent of the total organic carbon while the recalcitrant organic carbon accounts for 87 percent indicating that the recalcitrant organic carbon is of a greater proportion than the labile organic carbon. These fractions of organic carbon were also decreasing with depth. The soil organic carbon is low. The study revealed the different land uses contributed to the relatively low level of labile organic carbon in the soil hence appropriate crop and soil management practices are required in maintaining or improving the organic carbon status of the soil.