Relationship between soil properties and forests carbon: Case of three community forests from Far Western Nepal

The study was carried out in three community-managed forests of Dadeldhura district located in Far West of Nepal in 2015. The objectives of the study were to analyze biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and observe how primary soil nutrients and other soil properties affect the biomass and SOC in these forests. Simple random sampling method was used with 0. 62% sampling intensity. Concentric circular sample plot of various sizes were laid out for the necessary data collection. ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD and correlation tests were performed. The carbon density differed significantly (p<0. 05) in the studied CFs. The Tukey’s test showed the BPCF had significantly higher (p<0. 05) carbon density than other CFs. The correlation between biomass density (t/ha) and soil bulk density was very weak and it was not significant. However, biomass density revealed significant (p<0.05) negative correlation with SOC(r = -0.38) and Phosphorous (r = -0.56) content in the soil. Biomass density had no significant correlation with rest of the parameters. Similarly, SOC had significant (p<0.05) positive correlation with all the parameters except with soil bulk density (p<0.05, r= -0. 88). Despite the higher biomass in forests, we found the lesser amount of SOC and primary soil nutrients in the soil. Similarly, acidic soils with higher contents of primary soil nutrients (NPK) had relatively higher SOC whereas higher bulk density decreased the SOC content. Results revealed that community-managed forests seemed a viable source of biomass production and carbon sink to combat the global environmental problem (global warming). These types of forests have conserved relatively the higher biomass (biomass carbon) than normally (business-as-usual )managed forests. This output would be a reference to the policy maker, national and international communities of diverse fields who are engaged in forest carbon services related activities such as reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation(REDD), clean development mechanism (CDM) and forest management in terms of production. Similar studies are recommended in larger geographical areas and different ecological zones to generalize the inference.

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Agro-forestry Systems as a Means to Achieve Carbon Co-benefits in Nepal

Journal of Forest and Livelihood ◽

10.3126/jfl.v13i1.15366 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 59-68

Author(s):

Roshan M. Bajracharya ◽

Him Lal Shrestha ◽

Ramesh Shakya ◽

Bishal K. Sitaula

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Community Forests ◽

C Stocks ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks ◽

Agro Forestry

Land management regimes and forest types play an important role in the productivity and accumulation of terrestrial carbon pools. While it is commonly accepted that forests enhance carbon sequestration and conventional agriculture causes carbon depletion, the effects of agro-forestry are not well documented. This study investigated the carbon stocks in biomass and soil, along with the selected soil properties in agro-forestry plots compared to community forests (CF) and upland farms in Chitwan, Gorkha and Rasuwa districts of Central Nepal during the year 2012-2013. We determined the total above ground biomass carbon, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and soil properties (bulk density, organic carbon per cent, pH, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), and cation exchange capacity (CEC)) on samples taken from four replicates of 500 m2 plots each in community forests, agro-forestry systems and agricultural land. The soil was sampled in two increments at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths and intact cores removed for bulk density and SOC determination, while loose samples were separately collected for the laboratory analysis of other soil properties. The mean SOC percent and corresponding soil carbon stocks to 30 cm depth were generally highest in CF (3.71 and 3.69 per cent, and 74.98 and 76.24 t ha-1, respectively), followed by leasehold forest (LHF) (2.26 and 1.13 per cent and 40.72 and 21.34 t ha-1, respectively) and least in the agricultural land (3.05 and 1.09 per cent, and 63.54 and 19.42 t ha-1, respectively). This trend was not, however, observed in Chitwan, where agriculture (AG) had the highest SOC content (1.98 per cent) and soil carbon stocks (42.5 t ha-1), followed by CF (1.8 per cent and 41.2 t ha-1) and leasehold forests (1.56 per cent and 35.3 t ha-1) although the differences were not statistically significant. Other soil properties were not significantly different among land use types with the exceptions of pH, total N, available P and CEC in the Chitwan plots. Typically, SOC and soil carbon stocks (to 30cm depth) were positively correlated with each other and with TN and CEC. The AGB-C was expectantly highest in Rasuwa district CF (ranging from 107.3 to 260.3 t ha-1) due to dense growth and cool climate, followed by Gorkha (3.1 to 118.4 t ha-1), and least in Chitwan (17.6 to 95.2 t ha-1). The highest C stocks for agro-forestry systems in both above ground and soil were observed in Rasuwa, followed by Chitwan district. Besides forests, agro-forestry systems also hold good potential to store and accumulate carbon, hence they have scope for contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation with co-benefits.Journal of Forest and Livelihood 13(1) May, 2015, page: 56-68

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Long-term grazing effects on grassland soil properties in southern British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss2011-070 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 685-693 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

C. R. W. Evans ◽

M. Krzic ◽

K. Broersma ◽

D. J. Thompson

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Mechanical Resistance ◽

Stocking Rate ◽

Grassland Soil ◽

Grazing Effects

Evans, C. R. W., Krzic, M., Broersma, K. and Thompson, D. J. 2012. Long-term grazing effects on grassland soil properties in southern British Columbia. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 685–693. Although grazing effects on soil properties have been evaluated on various temperate grasslands, no study has dealt with these effects in the southern interior of British Columbia. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of spring versus fall season grazing as well as grazing [at a moderate rate of 0.6 animal unit months (AUM) ha−1] versus non-grazing by beef cattle on selected soil properties. Effects were determined 20 and 30 yr after the establishment of the field experiment. Soil properties were determined for the 0- to 7.5-cm, 7.5- to 15-cm, and 15- to 30-cm depths. In comparison with fall grazing, spring grazing had greater soil bulk density, greater mechanical resistance within the top 15 cm of the soil profile, higher pH, and lower polysaccharides. This was true for both 20 and 30 yr of treatment. Grazing effects on aggregate stability were observed only after 30 yr with spring grazing leading to a more stable structure with a mean weight diameter (MWD) of 1.5 mm and 32% and 10% of aggregates in the 2- to 6-mm and 1- to 2-mm size fractions, respectively, compared with a MWD of 1.0 mm and 20% and 6% under fall grazing. Greater soil bulk density, mechanical resistance, and pH were observed under the grazed treatment relative to the control without grazing, but as we used a moderate stocking rate the impacts were not as great as in previous studies, which used heavy stocking rates. Our findings show that long-term grazing at a moderate stocking rate of 0.6 AUM ha−1did not have critical detrimental effects on soil properties as some land managers and ranchers have suggested.

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Aspen and white spruce productivity is reduced by organic matter removal and soil compaction

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc2012-058 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 88 (03) ◽

pp. 306-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Richard Kabzems

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Compaction ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

White Spruce ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Organic Matter Removal

Declines in forest productivity have been linked to losses of organic matter and soil porosity. To assess how removal of organic matter and soil compaction affect short-term ecosystem dynamics, pre-treatment and year 1, 5 and 10 post-treatment soil properties and post-treatment plant community responses were examined in a boreal trembling aspen (Populus tremuloidesMichx.)-dominated ecosystem in northeastern British Columbia. The experiment used a completely randomized design with three levels of organic matter removal (tree stems only; stems and slash; stems, slash and forest floor) and three levels of soil compaction (none, intermediate [2-cm impression], heavy [5-cm impression]). Removal of the forest floor initially stimulated aspen regeneration and significantly reduced height growth of aspen (198 cm compared to 472–480 cm) as well as white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) height (82 cm compared to 154–156 cm). The compaction treatments had no effect on aspen regeneration density. At Year 10, heights of both aspen and white spruce were negatively correlated with upper mineral soil bulk density and were lowest on forest floor + whole tree removal treatments. Recovery of soil properties was occurring in the 0 cm to 2 cm layer of mineral soil. Bulk density values for the 0 cm to 10 cm depth remained above 86% of the maximum bulk density for the site, a soil condition where reduced tree growth can be expected.

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Effects of Different Highway Slope Disturbance on Soil Bulk Density, pH, and Soil Nutrients

Environmental Engineering Science ◽

10.1089/ees.2020.0125 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xue Jiang ◽

Shenghao Ai ◽

Siqian Yang ◽

Mengke Zhu ◽

Yingwei Ai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Nutrients ◽

Soil Bulk Density

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Community Managed Forest Groups and Preferences for REDD+ Contract Attributes: A Choice Experiment Survey of Communities in Nepal

Journal of Forest and Livelihood ◽

10.3126/jfl.v13i1.15362 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 9-19

Author(s):

Sahan T.M. Dissanayake ◽

Prakash Jha ◽

Bhim Adhikari ◽

Rajesh Bista ◽

Randall Bluffstone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Choice Experiment ◽

Forest Degradation ◽

Institutional Structure ◽

Institutional Arrangements ◽

Managed Forests ◽

Managed Forest ◽

Community Forests ◽

Contract Attributes

A significant portion of the world’s forests that are eligible for Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) payments are community managed forests. At the same time, there is a little knowledge in the existing literature about the preferences of households in the communities with community managed forests for REDD+ contracts.We use a choice experiment survey of rural communities in Nepal to understand the respondent’s preferences towards the institutional structure of REDD+ contracts. We split our sample across the communities with community managed forests groups and those without to see how the prior involvement in community managed forest groups’ impact preferences. Results show that respondents care about how the payments are divided between the households and the communities, the restrictions on firewood use, the restrictions on grazing and the level of payments. Finally we use a series of demographic interactions terms to analyze how the institutional arrangements and beliefs about climate change and benefits from the REDD+ program influence respondents’ beliefs. We find that there are no significant differences in the preferences for the REDD+ contract attributes between the Community Forests (CF) and non-CF respondent groups but we find that respondent groups differ in their beliefs about REDD+ payments and the institutional arrangements.Journal of Forest and Livelihood 13(1) May, 2015, Page : 8-19

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Relationship Analysis of Soil Bulk Density, Available K, and Slope to Productivity of Salak Pondoh at Padang Jaya, North Bengkulu

TERRA Journal of Land Restoration ◽

10.31186/terra.3.2.51-55 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 51-55

Author(s):

Muhammad Yakub ◽

M. Faiz Barchia ◽

Usman K.J. Suharjo

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

The Other ◽

Relationship Analysis ◽

Native Soil ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Salak (Zalacca edulis Gaertn. Voss) is one of the most populair native fruits of Indonesia, consumed as a table fruit by most Indonesians. However, the yield of salak pondoh grown in Bengkulu is still lower than that in their native soil Java, believed to have more suitable soil properties for growing salak pondoh. The objective of this research were to evaluate the relationship of soil bulk density, available K, and slope to the productivity of salak pondoh grown at Padang Jaya Regency, North Bengkulu. We did a survey to collect data on soil bulk density (BD), available K (K), and slope as well as the productivity of salak pondoh grown at Padang Jaya from November 2017 to May 2017. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between soil characteristics and salak productivity, as shown in a linear model of Y = 2.929 -1.070 BD + 0.069 K - 0.126 Slope. Soil K was positively correlated to salak productivity, suggesting that salak productivity increased with an increase in soil K. On the other than, soil bulk density and slope were negatively correlelated to salak productivity, indicating that salak productity decreased with an increase in slope and in soil bulk density.

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Site Preparation Effects on 20 Year Survival and Growth of Douglas-Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and on Selected Soil Properties

Western Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/wjaf/18.1.44 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 44-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

C.A. Harrington ◽

K.B. Piatek ◽

D.S. DeBell

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Site Preparation ◽

Douglas Fir ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Old Growth Forest ◽

Survival And Growth

Abstract Long-term effects of site preparation on tree performance and soil properties are not well known. Five site preparation treatments were evaluated to determine how they affected survival and growth of Douglas-fir 3, 10, and 20 yr after planting, and soil bulk density, C, N, P, and organic matter concentrations at 0 to 20 cm soil depth 21 yr after planting. The site preparation treatments were imposed following logging of three harvest units of old-growth forest on a volcanic soil in southwestern Washington; the units were logged to leave 17, 38, and 53 ton/ha of woody residue. The site preparation treatments were hand-pile-and-burn, machine-pile-and-burn, scarification, broadcast burn, and control. Mean survival ranged from 86% at age 3 to 70% at age 20, and average tree heights at 3, 10, and 20 yr were 0.6, 4.1, and 11.7 m. The scarification treatment had the best growth; at age 20, its average tree was 21% taller, 26% larger in diameter, and 82% greater in volume than the control. The hand-pile-and-burn treatment did not differ from the control in tree growth; the machine-pile-and-burn and broadcast burn treatments were intermediate in their growth response. Average soil bulk density was 0.74 g/cm3, organic matter concentration was 118 g/kg, and C, N, and P concentrations were 49, 1.6, and 0.7 g/kg with no significant treatment effects. Site preparation may have benefited growth of the trees on these units by decreasing competition from invading and regrowing vegetation, increasing nutrient availability, or increasing soil temperature. West. J. Appl. For. 18(1):44–51.

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EFFECTS OF GREEN MANURES AND NPK FERTILIZER ON SOIL PROPERTIES, TOMATO YIELD AND QUALITY IN THE FOREST-SAVANNA ECOLOGY OF NIGERIA

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479718000376 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 55 (5) ◽

pp. 793-806 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

TAIWO M. AGBEDE ◽

ARUNA O. ADEKIYA ◽

MONDAY O. ALE ◽

EHIOKHILEN K. EIFEDIYI ◽

CHRISTY A. OLATUNJI

Keyword(s):

Vitamin C ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Fruit Yield ◽

Green Manures ◽

Tomato Fruits ◽

Tomato Yield ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Npk Fertilizer

SUMMARYGreen manures (GM) as an alternative to inorganic fertilizer offer considerable potential as a source of plant nutrients and organic matter (OM). Hence, field experiments were carried out during 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to compare impacts of GM and NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer on soil properties, growth, fruit yield, mineral, lycopene and vitamin C contents of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentumMill). GMs were composed by green tender stems and leaves of pawpaw (Carica papayaL.), neem (Azadirachta indicaA. Juss.), moringa (Moringa oleiferaLam.) or gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium(Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.) and applied at 5 Mg ha−1, whereas NPK was applied at 300 kg ha−1and there was a no fertilizer plot (control). Application of GMs reduced soil bulk density and increased soil OM, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, growth, number of fruits and fruit yield of tomato compared with the control. NPK fertilizer had no effect on soil bulk density and soil OM, but it increased soil fertility and tomato yield as compared with the control. When comparing treatments, the highest tomato yield and best cost:benefit ratio were obtained with gliricidia as GM. The GMs and NPK fertilizer increased mineral, lycopene and vitamin C contents in tomato fruits and the highest K, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, lycopene and vitamin C contents in tomato fruits were found with moringa as GM. Our results revealed that GM has potential to improve soil properties, tomato yield and quality, being an alternative for cropping management.

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THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS COMPOSTS ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND COTTON YIELD

EPRA International Journal of Research & Development (IJRD) ◽

10.36713/epra4293 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 279-282

Author(s):

Sayimbetov Alisher ◽

Elemesova Nargiza Isataevna

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Bulk Density ◽

Structural State ◽

Water Resistance ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

High Yield ◽

Cotton Yield ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Agrochemical Properties

This article presents the positive effects of various composts on soil fertility and cotton productivity. It also describes the use of composts with different proportions of phosphogypsum to various organic materials to ensure the growth and high yield of cotton by improving soil bulk density, porosity, water resistance, structural state and agrochemical properties. KEYWORDS: soil, fertility, soil properties, bulk density, porosity, compost, cotton yield, yield.

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