Organic Carbon Content and Rates of Sequestration in Soils of Albania

Soil organic carbon (SOC) was measured in 17 pedons, representing major agricultural soils in Albania. The soils studied were Inceptisols, Vertisols, Mollisols, and Alfisols. Within each order, the wet members (aquic suborders) had 10 times or more SOC than their well‐drained counterparts. Radiocarbon dates were determined on wood fragments found in a few of the soils. The steady‐state rates of accumulation range from 20 to 60 g m −1 m −2 yr −1 in the wet soils. Only one well‐drained soil was available for comparison and this had an accumulation rate of SOC of <1 g m −1 m −2 yr −1 . Drainage of the wet soils results in a marked decrease in SOC. The rate of decrease is much smaller (26 g m −1 m −2 yr −1 during a 38‐yr period) than the accumulation rate, which was about 210 g m −1 m −2 yr −1 (during 2000 yr) in the one pedon studied. In the same climatic environment, the well‐drained soils accumulate SOC at significantly lower rates than their poorly drained counterparts, making the former inefficient sinks of SOC. Thus, from the point of view of sinks of atmospheric CO 2 , emphasis must be given to the wetland soils.