Carbon management Index under different land uses of Conoor region of Western ghats in Tamil Nadu

The increased land-use change (LUC) from native lands to other land use at the Conoor region of western ghats in Tamil Nadu has severely declined soil carbon concentration. Therefore quantify this decline, Carbon Management Index (CMI) was worked out under major uses {(Forest (FOR), cropland (CRP), tea plantation (TEA)} using total organic (TOC) and pools varying degrees lability {a) NLC (non-labile carbon) b) VLC (very labile c) LC (labile d) LLC (less carbon)}. Results portray that were significantly (p < 0.05) higher FOR than TEA CRP. contribution active {(very (VLC) (LC)} towards TOC CRP, whereas FOR, passive pool {(less (LLC) non-labile (NLC)} higher. (0-45 cm) concentrated on surface soils (32.88 g kg-1), CRP (11.87 kg-1) (18.84 it gradually with increase depth. decline maximum between 0 – 15 30 cm depth (30.62%) (22.17%), (37.16%) -30 -45 TEA. Therefore, LUC spotlights degradation its extent quantified management index (CMI). CMI (0 45 recorded (12.93) (32.62) signals need for an implementation strategies keep alive protect biodiversity.