Soil Carbon Flux Across Botanical Garden of Tuljaram Chaturchand College, Baramati 413102 (M.S.)

Present study was undertaken to measure soil carbon flux across five zones of college campus using alkali absorption technique. The selected zones were tree-dominated garden area, medicinal plant garden, lawn compost pit, and water/pot plant zone.. Soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted due to microbial respiration was captured using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) under closed chamber and quantified by titration with standard hydrochloric acid (HCl). Carbon flux was expressed as mg CO₂ m^-2 h^-1. The results revealed variability in soil carbon flux across the zones. Higher CO₂ emissions was observed in the compost pit and lawn indicating microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter., Lower carbon flux values were recorded in the tree and medicinal plant zones, suggesting stable soil environment and enhanced carbon retention. The variation in carbon flux can be attributed to differences in soil microbial metabolism, enzyme-mediated decomposition processes, and rhizospheric interactions influenced by vegetation structure.