Abstract:

One of the most important human interventions affecting wetland ecosystems in the world is land use change. The aim of the study is to reveal the effects of land use conversion (wetland to farmland) on soil organic carbon and some soil properties of wetlands in the case of the Sultan Marshes. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-40 cm in marshlands (Örtülüakar and Kepir Marshes) and in those converted to farmland in the wetland ecosystem and the amount of soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density and carbon storage capacity of soils at each land use types were calculated by dividing into 10 cm soil depth levels. In addition, disturbed soil samples were taken at two soil depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm). Some physical and chemical properties of soils were analyzed using this samples such as particle size distribution, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), loss on ignition and aggregate stability. Soil organic carbon, carbon storage capacity, loss on ignition, aggregate stability, clay, silt, sand contents and bulk density were the soil properties affected by land use conversion. Soil organic carbon, carbon storage capacity, pH, clay, sand contents and bulk density were the soil properties showed changes with soil depth.

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