Physical Soil-properties Associated with Recreational Use of a Forested Reserve Area in Malaysia

1989 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamaruzaman Jusoff

Forested areas of Kanching Recreation Forest exposed to concentrated recreational use tend to show signs of deterioration as indicated by soil parameters related to soil compaction. The results of the present study clearly indicate that such a deterioration of soil conditions has already occurred, though not on an alarming scale. Indeed the status of these soils remains favourable, as the figures for saturated hydraulic conductivity and plant-available water are still ‘satisfactory’, or at least were so during the period of study (1989). Surface runoff and sheet-erosion in intensively-used recreational sites must not, however, be looked upon in isolation when advising on recreational forest land-management.A recent study in Kanching Forest Reserve, Malaysia, showed that recreational use of forested areas could adversely affect soil conditions. Soil bulk density and micropore space were significantly increased, but total porespace and macropore space were significantly decreased. Available water-holding capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and particle-size distribution, were not significantly affected by recreational use on such sites, indicating that the status of Kanching Recreation Forest soil is still favourable for plant growth, or at least it was during the period of this study.

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Toková ◽  
Dušan Igaz ◽  
Ján Horák ◽  
Elena Aydin

Due to climate change the productive agricultural sectors have started to face various challenges, such as soil drought. Biochar is studied as a promising soil amendment. We studied the effect of a former biochar application (in 2014) and re-application (in 2018) on bulk density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water content and selected soil water constants at the experimental site in Dolná Malanta (Slovakia) in 2019. Biochar was applied and re-applied at the rates of 0, 10 and 20 t ha−1. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied annually at application levels N0, N1 and N2. In 2019, these levels were represented by the doses of 0, 108 and 162 kg N ha−1, respectively. We found that biochar applied at 20 t ha−1 without fertilizer significantly reduced bulk density by 12% and increased porosity by 12%. During the dry period, a relative increase in soil water content was observed at all biochar treatments—the largest after re-application of biochar at a dose of 20 t ha−1 at all fertilization levels. The biochar application also significantly increased plant available water. We suppose that change in the soil structure following a biochar amendment was one of the main reasons of our observations.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Cisneros ◽  
J. J. Cantero ◽  
A. Cantero

Land use and grazing regime can influence the dynamic of soil water and salt in humid areas. In Central Argentina, more than 2 ×106 ha are subjected to either permanent or cyclical processes of land salinization, alkalinization, flooding and sedimentation. In this region, the natural vegetation is the principal resource on which most systems of animal production are based. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of plant cover and grazing over some hydrophysical properties of three saline-sodic soils (two Gleic Solonetz in duripan phase and one Mollic Solonetz in fragipan phase), within a catena sequence. The effects on bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration runoff, superficial salt accumulation and soil salinity distribution were determined in both bare and covered soil conditions, inside and outside of grazing exclosures. The results showed increased bulk density of topsoil for bare conditions, while saturated hydraulic conductivity did not show significant differences. In soils without any cover, the infiltration decreased significantly. Consequently, the runoff coefficient and salinity were greater, as indicated by significant salt accumulation in the topsoil. The soil profile salinity was reduced as a function of exclosure time, showing a trend toward desalinization resulting from a combined effect of soil cover and changes in intensity of land use. A conceptual model of salt and water dynamics in the soil profile for the landscape scale is postulated. The role of vegetation in regulating water and salt movement in poorly drained areas is emphasised as a basis for the development of management strategies. Key words: Saline and sodic soils, infiltration, runoff, grazing, exclosure, model


2019 ◽  
pp. 115-129
Author(s):  
Jorge Cabelin ◽  
Beatriz Jadina

Landslides have become very frequent in Leyte which justifies the need for soil assessment and characterization of the landslide-prone areas in the province. This study assessed the physical characteristics of soils from the landslide areas in Cadac-an watershed in Leyte, Philippines. Landslide cuts located in the central highlands of Cadac-an watershed were used as representative profiles in this study. These were examined, characterized and sampled for the analyses of soil physical properties which include particle size distribution (Pipette method), bulk density (Paraffin-clod method), particle density (Pycnometer method), porosity, total soil wet density, water holding capacity and field capacity (Gravimetric method), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Constant head method), liquid limit and plastic index. Generally, soils from the landslide areas in Cadac-an watershed had a sandy loam to clay loam to clayey texture, low bulk density, low particle density, high porosity, moderate total soil wet density, moderate to high water holding capacity, low to moderate field capacity, moderately high to high saturated hydraulic conductivity, moderate liquid limit and low plastic index. Based on the above characteristics, the soils are susceptible to landslide occurrence thus it is highly recommended to conduct constant assessment and monitoring the area.


Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Sheridan

Compaction of a silty clay loam forest soil was compared for 2 types of log-skidding equipment, a rubber-tyred skidder and a flexible-steel-tracked skidder. Experiments involved the loaded skidders traversing marked laneways at zero, 2, 4, and 10 passes. Compaction was quantified in terms of 3 parameters: (1) bulk density to 25 cm depth measured gravimetrically, (2) penetration resistance using a field penetrometer, and (3) saturated hydraulic conductivity using a field rainfall simulator. Results showed no substantial difference in soil bulk density between the experimental treatments, regardless of skidder type or number passes. Penetration resistance of the traversed laneways was significantly higher than the surrounding undisturbed areas; however, there was no difference between skidder type. Rainfall simulation showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of all treatments was strongly reduced by trafficking, although this did not differ with skidder type. The results from this study highlight the dangers in assuming that reduced machine static ground pressures will automatically lead to reduced soil impacts. It is important to note that while this study did not find differences between the 2 skidder types when operated in a similar manner, differences in the operation of the two skidders may also influence impacts on soil properties.


2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama K. Nusier

Due to its high organic matter content, peatmoss can be highly beneficial to agricultural soil. In this research, the impact of varying organic matter contents at different compaction efforts on water retention, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and modulus of rupture of three soils (sandy loam, clay loam, and clay) has been investigated under laboratory conditions. Compaction changed the ability of the soils to hold water, increased modulus of rupture, and decreased the plant-available water-holding capacity of the soils. On the other hand, organic matter generally increased the ability of the soils to hold water, expanded the available water capacity, and decreased the modulus of rupture of compacted soils. Key words: Peatmoss, water retention, saturated hydraulic conductivity, modulus of rupture


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1581
Author(s):  
Yafan Zuo ◽  
Kangning He

In recent years, Pedo-Transfer Functions (PTFs) have become a commonly used tool to predict the hydraulic properties of soil. As an important index to evaluate the function of forest water conservation, the prediction of saturated hydraulic conductivity (KS) on the regional scale is of great significance to guide the vegetation construction of returning farmland to forest area. However, if the published PTFs are directly applied to areas where the soil conditions are different from those where the PTFs are established, their predictive performance will be greatly reduced. In this study, 10 basic soil properties were measured as input variables for PTFs to predict KS in the three watersheds of Taergou, Anmentan, and Yangjiazhai in the alpine frigid hilly region of Qinghai Province, China. The parameters of the eight published PTFs were modified by the least-squares method and new PTFs were also constructed, and their prediction performance was evaluated. The results showed that the KS of coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests and broad-leaved pure forests in the study area were significantly higher than those of pure coniferous forests, and grassland and farmland were the lowest (p > 0.05). Soil Organic Matter plays an important role in predicting KS and should be used as an input variable when establishing PTFs. The Analysis-Back Propagation Artificial Neural Network (BP ANN) PTF that was established, with input variables that were, Si·SOM, BD·Si, ln2Cl, SOM2, and SOM·lnCl had a better predictive performance than published PTFs and MLR PTFs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 378-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aitor García-Tomillo ◽  
Tomás de Figueiredo ◽  
Jorge Dafonte Dafonte ◽  
Arlindo Almeida ◽  
Antonio Paz-González

Abstract Soil compaction is a serious problem, which is aggravated due to its difficulty to locate and reverse. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a non-invasive geophysical method that can be used to identify compacted areas, soil horizon thickness and assess soil physical properties. This study assesses the relationship between ERT and soil compaction. Data were collected on a 4-m transect in a fallow plot located at Braganca (Portugal). Measurements were performed before and after tillage and tractor passage. Soil samples at different depths (0-0.05, 0.05-0.1 and 0.1-0.2 m depth) were taken to determine: soil bulk density, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil water content. The effect of tillage and tractor passage was more significant on the first 0.05 m depth. In the wheel track areas, ERT suffered a reduction of about 40%, saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased by 70% and bulk density increased by 24%. These results proved that ERT can be a useful tool for assessing soil compaction.


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