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Physico-chemical Properties of the Soils of Jahangirnagar University Campus and Their Impacts on Existing Phytodiversity

M. Aminul Islam
Bangladesh National Herbarium, Zoo Road, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

M. Mahfuzur Rahmani
Bangladesh National Herbarium, Zoo Road, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

A. B. M. Enayet Hossain
Department of Botany, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sirajul Hoque
Department of Soil Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study was conducted on four different habitats of Jahangirnagar University campus. The physico-chemical properties of the soils were determined by international standard methods, and also using by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The soils of the study area were dominated by silty clay and acidic in nature. The soil moisture, organic matter, and available phosphorus were comparatively low, but available nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc were in normal range, while iron and manganese contents were high. It was remarkable that the sodium content of the soil was very high- which is a discrepancy. The existing plant resources of the study area indicated that, in the distant past, it was a vast tract of sal forest. Soil textural class, high iron content and acidic nature of the soil also suggested the above finding. Moreover, the fertility status of the study area was poor and overall nutrient status was degraded.

Keywords: Soil properties, Phytodiversity, Diffemt habitats, Secondary 'Sal' forest.

Location: Four different habitats of Jahangirnagar University campus

Start Date: 00-00-2001

End Date: 00-00-2001

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Land management

Objectives:

1. To assess the soil physico-chemical and nutritional properties and their impacts on the existing flora.

Methodology:

Vegetational Survey: Eight permanent stands of 40 X 20m sampling area were selected from four different habitats and studied throughout the year. In each permanent stand of the sampling area, ten quadrats were made randomly for the purpose of vegetational data record. The habitats were recognized as woodlands (stands A, and A₂), open scrubs (stands B, and B₂), grasslands (stands C, and C₂) and rice fields (stands D, and D₂). Soil Analysis: The soil samples were collected from different selected habitats for the physicochemical analysis. They were randomly collected from two different topographic positions of undulating land. Four soil samples were collected from each and every stand. Out of them two samples were from upland (UL), another two from lowland (LL) in two different soil depths as topsoil (TS) and subsoil (SS). The physicochemical and nutritional properties were determined by using different international standard methods, especially, atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results are obtained from average values of four samples of upland (TS and SS), and lowland (TS and SS) which were conducted in each and every stand. The moisture content at field condition was determined by gravimetric method, and field moisture capacity was determined by using pressure plate apparatus. Maximum water holding capacity of the soil was determined after saturation. The particle size of the soils was obtained by hydrometer method , and textural classes were determined by Marshall's co-ordinate. The pH of moist soil was determined by using a Coming glass electrode pH meter (model no. 7). Organic carbon content was estimated by wet oxidation method. Organic matter content was calculated by multiplying the values of organic carbon with conventional factor 1.724. Available nitrogen was estimated by microKjeldahl distillation method, and cation exchange capacity was determined by ammonium acetate method. A vailable phosphorus was extracted by following Bray and Kurtz method and phosphorus present in the extract was determined by ascorbic acid blue colour method. The sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium were extracted by neutral IN NR;OAc method , and the copper, zinc, iron, and manganese were extracted by O.IN Hel method.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Life Sci. 13(1&2): 75-81, 2001 (June & December)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present study area has long been disturbed through human interference, such as cutting, felling, grazing, and leaf-litter collection. These kinds of biotic pressure are the major contributing factors for the change in vegetational composition and also the soil structures. The study area, once a tropical deciduous forest has now been converted into a scrub and grassland type of vegetation. Since the original vegetation cover has been removed from where the slopes are steep, irregular and the soil is silty, the surface soil has been subjected to accelerated erosion hazards. Therefore, evaluation of a relationship between the present vegetation and soil properties faces certain inherent difficulties and limitations. But it is true that, many of the existing plant species are threatened and destined to be rare and ultimately extinct in near future due to habitat loss and also declination of the quality of soil.

Knowledge Management: Journal