Abstract

Background: Soil carbon sequestration is a fundamental mechanism for mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Soils can store more carbon than both vegetation and the atmosphere combined. This study aims to quantify the organic carbon stock and evaluate various physicochemical properties of the soil to promote sustainability in the Lesser Himalayan subtropical coniferous and mixed forests of Muzaffarabad. Soil samples were collected from ten representative sites within each forest type, and soil organic carbon (SOC) was measured using the Walkley-Black method. Results: The SOC averaged 63.86 ± 3.29 Mg ha-1 in coniferous forests and 50.05 ± 3.05 Mg ha-1 in mixed forests, with a total average of 56.95 ± 1.40 Mg ha-1. SOC levels in coniferous forest soils ranged from 82.11 ± 6.52 Mg ha-1 to 48.63 ± 3.82 Mg ha-1, while mixed forest ecosystems exhibited a SOC range of 62.29 ± 4.71 Mg ha-1 to 35.57 ± 2.34 Mg ha-1. The average soil pH was 7.1 ± 0.14, whereas soil bulk density, and electrical conductivity were 1.1 ± 0.01 g cm-3 and 0.95 ± 0.07 dS m-1, respectively. The sampled forests harboured 103 plant species from 48 families and 92 genera, with trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants constituting 17%, 12%, and 71% of the flora, respectively. Conclusions: Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in SOC between coniferous and mixed forest types. The dominant plant families in the studied forests were Poaceae, Compositeae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae. The findings underscore the need for sustainable forest and soil management policies to enhance SOC levels. Implementing such policies is crucial for achieving the sustainable development goals related to environmental sustainability, economic development, and societal well-being.