Characterization of Soil Organic Carbon Fractions in Agricultural Fields of Beed District, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a pivotal role in maintaining soil fertility, ecosystem sustainability, and agricultural productivity. The present investigation aims to characterize SOC fractions in selected agricultural fields of Beed district, Maharashtra, India, representing semi-arid agro-climatic conditions. Soil samples were collected from multiple sites under varying cropping systems and analyzed for total organic carbon and its fractions, including particulate organic carbon (POC), humus carbon (HC), and resistant organic carbon (ROC). The Walkley–Black wet oxidation method was employed for SOC estimation, while fractionation was performed using physical and chemical separation techniques. The results indicated significant spatial variability in SOC fractions, with higher labile carbon fractions observed in organically managed fields compared to conventionally cultivated soils. The study highlights the importance of SOC fractionation in understanding soil health dynamics and carbon sequestration potential in drought-prone regions. The findings have implications for sustainable soil management practices in rural agricultural systems.