Impact of Land Use/cover on Carbon Sequestration in Afaka Forest Reserve, Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigerian

This study aims to assess the impact of land use/cover on carbon sequestration in Afaka Forest Reserve. Six (6) land use/cover types were delineated and used in the study area. This includes Eucalyptus plantation (EP), Farmland (FL), Gme- lina plantation (GP), Mixed plantation (MP), Natural plantation (NP) and Teak plantation (TP). A profile pit was dug in the middle of each of the delineated land use/cover. Soil samples were collected from master horizon of the profile pits and analyzed using standard procedures. The result showed that soils under EP were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in micro aggregate (15.9), silt and clay aggregates (4.45) and mean weight diameter (MWD) (0.62) while soils under FL recorded the least value for micro aggregate (7.14) and silt and clay aggregates (1.45). Soils under EP sequestered significantly (P < 0.05) higher carbon in all the pools (Labile carbon, Intra aggregate particulate, silt plus clay, non-hydrolyzable and total carbon) than the other land use/cover while FL recorded the least values. Surface soils sequestered significantly (P < 0.05) higher carbon (9.1 g kg-1) than subsoils (2.2 g kg-1). Labile carbon was higher than non-labile carbon in all the land use types. Total C significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with all carbon pools. Soils under EP, NP and MP were best suited for sustainable land management and climate change mitigation relative to the other land use/cover due to higher aggregation and carbon sequestration. Unsustainable management practices de- creased MWD and all the carbon pools, thus increased climate change severity.