Soil organic carbon stock under semi-deciduous tropical forests: case of the Téné protected forest (Oumé, Côte d'Ivoire)

Soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) estimated from international databases are generally subject to uncertainties. These errors are more significant in developing countries where field studies are rare. To overcome this shortcoming, soil samples were collected in the experimental set-up of Téné protected forest (ES-TPF), located in central-western Côte d'Ivoire, to identify the soil types and the corresponding actual SOCS. The FAO soil classification guide was used to identify soil types. SOCS were determined from the carbon concentrations, bulk densities, and proportions of fine elements, in 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm and 60-100 cm thicknesses. The results showed three soil types, namely Plinthosols at top slope, Ferralsols at top and middle slope and Fluvisols at bottom slope. In the reference thicknesses 0-30 cm and 0-100 cm, the respective SOCS are on average 44.89±25% tC.ha-1 and 61.56±23% tC.ha-1 in Plinthosols; 49.16±26% tC.ha-1 and 93.40±16% tC.ha-1 in Ferralsols; 41.18±32% tC.ha-1 and 68.54±22% tC.ha-1 in Fluvisols. Almost all these values differed from those in the international databases, especially in the depths. Therefore, the results obtained are recommended for a better accounting and management of SOCS in the semi-deciduous tropical forests of West Africa