Land Use and Soil Organic Carbon Stocks—Change Detection over Time Using Digital Soil Assessment: A Case Study from Kamyaran Region, Iran (1988–2018)

Land use change and soil organic carbon stock (SOCS) depletion over time is one of the predominant worldwide environmental problems related to global warming need secure food production for an increasing world population. In our research, satellite images from 1988 2018 were analyzed a 177.48 km2 region in Kurdistan Province, Iran. Across study area. 186 disturbed undisturbed samples collected at two depths (0–20 cm 20–50 cm). Bulk density (BD), (SOC), rock fragments (RockF) SOCS measured. Random forest was used model spatial variability SOCS. mapped with supervised classification maximum likelihood approaches. The Kappa index overall accuracy land maps varied between 83% 88% 78% 85%, respectively. area high-quality rangeland covered 5286 ha decreased by almost 30% 2018. Most decrease due establishment cropland orchards, overgrazing rangeland. As expected, results analysis variance showed that mean values significantly higher compared other classes. Thus, transformation natural vegetation like led loss 15,494 Mg C topsoil, 15,475 subsoil 15,489 C?1 total. We concluded causes degradation mostly food, anthropogenic activities such as cultivation grazing, lack government landuse legislation this are useful monitoring, decision making, planning areas research development province.