scholarly journals Soil Physico-chemical Properties at Different Habitat Types in Disturbed and Undisturbed Sites of the Takamanda Rainforest, Cameroon

Author(s):  
Egbe Enow Andrew ◽  
Njoh Roland Ndah ◽  
Eneke Bechem ◽  
Celestine Fonyikeh-Bomboh Lucha

Soil fertility in tropical forest ecosystems is achieved by high and rapid circulation of nutrients, through nutrient cycling which is a function of climate variability. Decomposition is a key process in nutrient cycling and the formation of soil organic carbon. This study examines the physico-chemical properties of soils in different habitat types in the disturbed and undisturbed Takamanda rainforest.  A total of 180 soil samples were collected from the different habitat types of the two forest sites. At each of the sites, soil samples were collected from the ridge tops (crest of a ridge), hilly slopes (side of a ridge), plains (low land), swamps (low land area saturated with water) and valley bottoms (trough surrounded by ridges). Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-40 cm, 40-50 cm and 50-60 cm soil depths. The results indicated that the bulk densities were highest in the habitats of hilly slope (1.43±0.35) and ridge top (1.21±0.11) in the disturbed and undisturbed forest respectively. The soil porosity was highest (73±50) in plain and valley bottoms (72±60) in the undisturbed forest. The electrical conductivity was highest (58.83±80, 57.00±4.50) in valley bottoms in both disturbed and undisturbed sites respectively. The soil textural classes noted in both top soil and subsoil in disturbed and undisturbed were loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, sandy clay loam and clay loam. The macro-nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Organic Carbon, Sulphur, Calcium and Potassium) generally showed a decreased trend with soil depths across habitats in disturbed and undisturbed forests. The soil micronutrients (Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Nickel) showed an increased trend with soil depths across habitats in disturbed and undisturbed forest sites. Therefore, appropriate measures are necessary for conservation and management of the soils of Takamanda rainforest. This would enhance the growth and diversity of both flora and fauna of these rainforest sites. 

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinay Rawat ◽  
Ajendra Singh Bagri ◽  
Hardeep Singh ◽  
Prabhawati Tiwari ◽  
Jay Krishan Tiwari

The physico-chemical properties of soil vary with the variation in the topographic features, climatic conditions and forest types. In any forest ecosystem, both vegetation and soil influence each other through nutrient cycles. The altitudinal variation in soil physico-chemical properties was analyzed in a temperate forest (Radi forest) of Upper Yamuna Forest Division in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand (Western Himalaya, India). A total of three forest sites were selected at different altitudes (the lower, middle, and upper) to collect composite soil samples from each site covering 0–10 cm, 11–20 cm and 21–30 cm depths. The textural class of the soils was sandy loam. The colour of the soil samples varied from brown to very dark brown. The water holding capacity (r = 0.994), soil organic carbon (r = 0.967), organic matter (r = 0.966), nitrogen (r = 0.993), phosphorus (r = 0.982) and potassium content (r = 0.994) had positive correlation with altitude whereas negative correlation was observed between altitude and soil pH (r = -0.983) in the study. The present study concludes that soil physico-chemical properties in temperate forests of Uttarakhand Himalaya vary significantly with variation in altitude.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-166
Author(s):  
MA Gafur ◽  
Afroza Sultana

Physico-chemical properties of soils and quantitative estimation and distribution of population of Azotobacter, ammonifying, nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in soils under tea plants of tea valleys of Bangladesh were studied. Soil texture ranged from loam to clay loam, pH ranged from 4.84 - 5.65 and organic carbon varied between 0.18 and 2.12%. Population of Azotobacter, ammonifying bacteria, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter and denitrifying bacteria ranged from 18.0 × 109/g - 88.4 × 109cfu/g soil, 0.20 × 109/g - 0.24 × 109/g soil, 0.20 × 109/g - 0.24 × 109/g soil, 0.20 × 109/g - 0.24 × 109/g soil and 0.17 × 109/g - 0.24 × 109/g soil, respectively. The populations of microorganisms were not related with soil pH and organic carbon. Ammonifying bacteria was positively and significantly correlated with Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas with Nitrobacter at 0.01% level. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i1.15907 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42(1): 161-165, 2013 (June)


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 228-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanlalhruaii Ralte

Mining causes massive damage to landscape and biological components of an ecosystem. Due to extensive and unmanaged coal mining in the southern part of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve of Meghalaya, the area has been turned into degraded land since nutrient deficient sandy spoils are hostile for the growth and regeneration of plant communities. Soil is sandy to sandy loam and red, brown to dark brown in colour. The physico-chemical properties of the soil were greatly affected due to coal mining. There is an increased acidity i.e. from 6.00 in the undisturbed forest (control site) to 3.50 in the coal mine spoil since abandoned mine spoil discharge acidic water that are enriched with iron and other metals and metalloids. Apart from this, soil nutrients are greatly depleted. The core zone soils are rich in organic matter and nutrients whereas coalmine spoils show sign of degradation especially in the nutrient content.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20
Author(s):  
Asif Ahmed Ratul ◽  
Tahsina Sharmin Hoque ◽  
Md Rafiqul Islam ◽  
Md Anamul Hoque

Soil reaction is an important issue that adversely affects soil fertility and crop productivity. Twenty five representative soil samples from farmers’ fields of Ramchandrakura, Bishgiripar, Andharupara and Nayabil villages of Nalitabari upazila under Sherpur district (AEZ 22-Northern and Eastern Piedmont Plains) and twenty soil samples from farmers’ fields of Bakta, Nishchintopur, Boril and Kaladaho villages of Fulbaria upazila under Mymensingh district (AEZ 28-Madhupur Tract) were collected and analyzed to study the physico-chemical properties of acid soils. Among 45 samples, 13 were sandy loam, 17 were silt loam, 10 were loam, 2 were clay loam and 3 were loamy sand in texture. Soil pH was very strongly acidic to strongly acidic. The soil pH of AEZ 22 varied from 3.81 to 4.78 and that of AEZ 28 varied from 3.96 to 5.11. The organic C of Nalitabari soil varied from 0.50 to 1.35% and that of Fulbaria soils ranged from 0.50 to 1.27% showing low to medium status. The status of nutrient elements viz. N, P, K and S in most of the samples was very low or very low to medium. Total N contents of AEZ 22 varied from 0.06 to 0.14% and that of AEZ 28 varied from 0.07 to 0.16%. Available P in soils of AEZ 22 varied from 3.25 to 26.45 ppm and that in soils of AEZ 28 ranged from 2.45 to 16.62 ppm. Exchangeable K in AEZ 22 soils varied from 15.13 to 92.41 ppm and that in AEZ 28 soils varied from 16.09 to 98.41 ppm. Available S in AEZ 22 soils varied from 1.68 to 33.70 ppm and that in AEZ 28 soils from 3.95 to 27.52 ppm. Therefore, these acid soils should be amended with liming materials and fertilized with inorganic fertilizers and organic manures for successful crop production. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2021, 7(1): 12-20


Author(s):  
Chahat Verma ◽  
Abhinav Lal ◽  
Alec D. M. David ◽  
P. Smriti Rao

Physico-chemical properties of soils from different land use systems viz. agriculture, olericulture, horticulture etc in Prayagraj (Allahabad) Uttar Pradesh were analyzed in 2018-19. Samples were collected from 4 different sites of Allahabad district viz., ECC gaughat, Jhunsi, Karchhana & Subedarganj having distance between them of at least 4 kms. Some soils samples had higher water holding capacity & value of organic carbon. They have average value of pH and EC as compared to the cultivated soils. Potassium was found to be of low content in soil samples. Physical properties and parameters for all soils were average or medium whereas as variation in chemical properties were observed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-44
Author(s):  
Dinesh Khadka ◽  
Sushil Lamichhane ◽  
Amit P Timilsina ◽  
Bandhu R Baral ◽  
Kamal Sah ◽  
...  

Soil pit digging and their precise study is a decision making tool to assess history and future of soil management of a particular area. Thus, the present study was carried out to differentiate soil physico-chemical properties in the different layers of excavated pit of the National Maize Research Program, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Eight pits were dug randomly from three blocks at a depth of 0 to 100 cm. The soil parameters were determined in-situ, and in laboratory for texture, pH, OM, N, P (as P2O5), K (as K2O), Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn of collected soils samples of different layers following standard analytical methods at Soil Science Division, Khumaltar. The result revealed that soil structure was sub-angular in majority of the layers, whereas bottom layer was single grained. The value and chrome of colour was increasing in order from surface to bottom in the majority pits. Similarly, the texture was sandy loam in majority layers of the pits. Moreover, four types of consistence (loose to firm) were observed. Furthermore, mottles and gravels were absent in the majority layers. Likewise, soil was very to moderately acidic in observed layers of majority pits, except bottom layer of agronomy block was slightly acidic. Regarding fertility parameters (OM, macro and micronutrients), some were increasing and vice-versa, while others were intermittent also. Therefore, a single layer is not dominant for particular soil physico-chemical parameters in the farm. In overall, surface layer is more fertile than rest of the layers in all the pits.     


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 7451
Author(s):  
Barbara Breza-Boruta ◽  
Karol Kotwica ◽  
Justyna Bauza-Kaszewska

Properly selected tillage methods and management of the available organic matter resources are considered important measures to enable farming in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture. Depending on the depth and intensity of cultivation, tillage practices affect soil chemical composition, structure and biological activity. The three-year experiment was performed on the soil under spring wheat (cv. Tybalt) short-time cultivation. The influence of different tillage systems and stubble management on the soil’s chemical and biological parameters was analyzed. Organic carbon content (OC); content of biologically available phosphorus (Pa), potassium (Ka), and magnesium (Mg); content of total nitrogen (TN), mineral nitrogen forms: N-NO3 and N-NH4 were determined in various soil samples. Moreover, the total number of microorganisms (TNM), bacteria (B), actinobacteria (A), fungi (F); soil respiratory activity (SR); and pH in 1 M KCl (pH) were also investigated. The results show that organic matter amendment is of greater influence on soil characteristics than the tillage system applied. Manure application, as well as leaving the straw in the field, resulted in higher amounts of organic carbon and biologically available potassium. A significant increase in the number of soil microorganisms was also observed in soil samples from the experimental plots including this procedure.


1970 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Zabed Hossain ◽  
Mihir Lal Saha ◽  
Chaman Binta Aziz ◽  
Sirajul Hoque

This study examined the effect of deforestation on the soil properties (physico-chemical and bacterial) of the Sal (Shorea robusta Roxb. Ex Gaertn.) forests in Bangladesh. Physico-chemical properties and the bacterial colony counts of soil were studied by comparing a natural Sal forest site with deforested and planted with Menjium site, deforested and planted with Mahogoni site, as well as deforested but not planted but covered with profuse growth of Axonopus compressus grass species site. Moisture content was significantly lower in the deforested and planted with Menjium site and deforested and planted with Mahogoni site than the natural forest site and the deforested but not planted site. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen and available nitrogen contents were significantly lower in the natural forest site. Significantly higher number of bacterial colony and higher organic carbon and moisture contents were found in the deforested but not planted site indicating that both organic carbon and moisture content were important for microbial growth. The present study clearly showed that deforestation significantly altered the soil physico-chemical and bacterial communities of the Sal forests. It was also revealed that plantation with different exotic plants were found to be different in influencing soil properties. Key words: Bacterial colony; Deforestation effects; Sal forest; Soil physico-chemical properties DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujbs.v19i1.8945 DUJBS 2010; 19(1): 63-72


Author(s):  
Gintaras JARAŠIŪNAS ◽  
Irena KINDERIENĖ

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different land use systems on soil erosion rates, surface evolution processes and physico-chemical properties on a moraine hilly topography in Lithuania. The soil of the experimental site is Bathihypogleyi – Eutric Albeluvisols (abe–gld–w) whose texture is a sandy loam. After a 27-year use of different land conservation systems, three critical slope segments (slightly eroded, active erosion and accumulation) were formed. Soil physical properties of the soil texture and particle sizes distribution were examined. Chemical properties analysed for were soil ph, available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N). We estimated the variation in thickness of the soil Ap horizon and soil physico-chemical properties prone to a sustained erosion process. During the study period (2010–2012) water erosion occurred under the grain– grass and grass–grain crop rotations, at rates of 1.38 and 0.11 m3 ha–1 yr–1, respectively. Soil exhumed due to erosion from elevated positions accumulated in the slope bottom. As a result, topographic transfiguration of hills and changes in soil properties occurred. However, the accumulation segments of slopes had significantly higher silt/clay ratios and SOC content. In the active erosion segments a lighter soil texture and lower soil ph were recorded. Only long-term grassland completely stopped soil erosion effects; therefore geomorphologic change and degradation of hills was estimated there as minimal.


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