Effects of forest management on soil physical and chemical properties of Khalil-Mahale forest

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of forest management on soil physicochemical properties in compartments No. 10 (control) and 12 (managed) in Forest Series No. 1 in Khalil-Mahale Forest Management Planning, Behshahr. Twenty circular sample plots with an area of 1000 m2 were systematic-randomly sampled in a 100×75 m grid in both compartments. In each plot, five 1 m2 micro-plots were established: one in the center and four others in north-south, east-west directions at each corner. Soil samples were collected from 0-10 and 10-20 cm depths in the micro-plots. In each plot, the samples taken from the same depth range were pooled. According to our results, the values of moisture content, pH, EC, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were significantly (α=5%) different in the two compartments. This study highlights the positive influence of single selection system on the physicochemical properties of forest soils.

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