Build-up of labile, non-labile carbon fractions under fourteen-year-old bamboo plantations in the Himalayan foothills

Carbon fractions under different bamboo species viz., Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa bambos, Bambusa nutans, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus asper and Dendrocalamus strictus were evaluated to understand the potential of these different bamboo species in soil rehabilitation in Himalayan foothills. The highest accumulation of the different carbon fractions likes very labile (6.12 mg g−1), less labile (2.55 mg g−1) and non-labile (11.40 mg g−1) was observed under D. hamiltonii, while highest labile fraction (3.17 mg g−1) was recorded under D. strictus. The highest active (8.85 mg g−1) and passive pool (13.95 mg g−1) were recorded under D. hamiltonii. Higher carbon management index (CMI) was obtained under D. hamiltonii (186.04) which was comparable with D. strictus (182.66) and B. nutans (179.24). Among all the six species, D. hamiltonii had the highest buildup of active and passive pool in both the soil depths. Bamboo plantations irrespective of the different species helped in enhancing the SOC fraction and enhanced C buildup in the soil in comparison to the open fallow land and holds potential in combating the problems of land degradation and soil rehabilitation.