<![CDATA[Climate change is a global issue primarily driven by increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Numerous studies have been conducted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as a strategy to mitigate its effects. Soils, particularly volcanic soils, are known to store significant amounts of carbon - second only to deep-sea reservoirs. This study aims to investigate the soil organic carbon content distribution of volcanic soils along elevation gradient on Kaba Volcano in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. Nine soil samples, both disturbed and undisturbed, were collected at a depth of 10 cm from three locations at different elevations: the foothill (1360–1380 m a.s.l.), hillside (1610–1620 m a.s.l.), and hilltop (1930–1940 m a.s.l.). Undisturbed samples were collected using a 70-mm core cylinder to determine soil bulk density, while disturbed samples were taken with a shovel and analyzed for soil organic carbon, pH, and particle size distribution (sand, silt, and clay). The results showed that the hillside samples had the highest soil organic carbon content, while the hilltop samples had the lowest. Correspondingly, the lowest soil pH was observed at the hillside, and the highest bulk density was found at the hilltop. Particle size analysis revealed that sand and clay content at the hillside were similar to those at the foothill and both were higher than those at the hilltop. The lower soil organic carbon at the hilltop may be attributed to drier conditions and reduced vegetation cover compared to the foothill and hillside.]]>
