Long‐Term (50‐Year) Land‐Use Effect on Carbon Stock and Soil Quality on a University Campus in the Equatorial Region of Colombia

Comprehending the complex land‐use change/carbon sequestration interplay is crucial for formulating effective planning and management strategies. This study assesses alterations in soil organic carbon (SOC) storage across various land uses (cropland, grassland, forestland, gardenland) at a suburban university in Villavicencio, Colombia, distinguished by acidic tropical soils in the piedmont, over a 50‐year period. Soil samples were obtained at two depths utilizing a Dutch auger and assessed for bulk density, pH, SOC, soil texture, and macro‐ and micronutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus. The SOC levels across various land uses were high given restricted organic matter mineralization and typically lowered with depth because of the sandy soil texture and differing soil management practices. Grasslands demonstrated the highest SOC levels of all land uses, presumably attributable to their dense vegetation cover. Soil management practices in croplands and orchards resulted in diminished SOC stocks versus forests and grasslands throughout the study period. Alterations were significant in the deeper soil layer and less apparent in the upper layer. The highest SOC stratification ratio, a soil conservation measure, was in croplands, followed closely by grasslands and forests. Orchard soils exhibited signs of degradation. Litter generation and breakdown are pivotal processes that affect SOC inputs whose rates considerably impact SOC stratification. Our findings offer a significant foundation for enhancing soil quality on the campus and for advancing sustainable land use and soil conservation. This study presents the first thorough examination of land‐use change effects on regional SOC stocks under equatorial climate conditions.