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Assessment of Soil Physical Properties Under Plantation and Deforested Sites in a Biodiversity Conservation Area of North-eastern Bangladesh

Rahman. M.H
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Bahauddin. M
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Khan. M.A.S.A
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh, 3- Department of Disturbance Ecology, University of Bayreuth, University Str. 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany

Islam. M.J
Ministry of Planning, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Uddin. M.B
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Some selected physical soil properties viz. moisture content, particle density, organic matter, balk density and porosity between planted and deforested sites has been investigated at surface (0-10 cm) and sub-surface (10-30 cm) soil in a biodiversity conservation area (Tilagarh Eco-Park) of North-eastern Bangladesh. Moisture content at all the soil depths was significantly higher (p≤ 0.05) in planted sites than in deforested site. Forest plantation had a significant effect on soil binding process since a common trend of increment in soil particle density and bulk density were noticed; particle and bulk density of soil decreases if any land is deforested and remained deforested for a longer time. Deforested site contained lower mean soil organic matter than that of Garjan (Dipterocarpus turbinatus) and Sal (Shorea robusta) plantations. The highest value of organic matter was found at surface soil (0-10 cm depth) in both the Sal (2.24%) and Garjan (1.77%) plantations. The organic matter on both the plantations and deforested site decreased with the increase of soil depth. The mean value of soil porosity was significantly less in deforested site (0.47 gm/cc) than that in Sal (0.48 gm/cc) and Garjan plantation (0.49 gm/cc).

Keywords: Moisture content, Organic matter, Soil particle density, Bulk density, Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Shorea robusta, Tilagarh Eco-Park

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End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Plant, Soil Physical Properties

Objectives:

As no previous studies have been conducted in this aspect in the northeastern region of Bangladesh so, this study will be a base line study to analysis of soil physical properties under plantation and deforested sites.

Methodology:

Study site The Tilagarh Eco-park (TGEP) is located at North Sylhet Range-1 in Sylhet Forest Division under tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen bio-geographic zone. It is about 6 km from Sylhet city. Total area of Tilagarh Eco-park is 45.35 ha (112 acres); GPS location is between 23°55′ and 25°02′ North latitude, 90°55′ and 92°30′ East longitude. Soil ranges from clay loams to pale brown (acidic) clay loams on the hills. Red sandy clay contains granules of magniferous iron ore (Bahauddin, 2008). Soil pH ranges from 5 to 7.5. Climatic conditions are warm and humid, April and May are the warmest and December and January are the coolest months of this area. The tropical monsoon climate prevails in the area with average maximum temperature of 31.6⁰C and average minimum temperature of 19.9⁰C. The average annual rainfall is 3937 mm, most of which falls between June-September (BBS/UNDP, 2005). Research methods Selection of soil sampling sites Soil samples were collected from two plantation sites viz. Sal (S. rabusta) plantation and Garjan (D. turbinatus) plantation sites and deforested site. Sal and Garjan plantation are selected because of they are dominant in the TGEP During dry season, from the first week of January 2010 to the last week of May 2010 samples were collected from selected plantation sites and deforestation site at two different depths viz. surface soil (0−10 cm) and subsurface soil (10−30 cm). Total 90 samples (30 from each land use and 15 from each depth) were collected from 3 land-use sites. Plot size was 20m × 20m. Then each five samples were mixed to prepare one composite sample. In this way total 90 samples were converted into 18 composite soil samples for convenient laboratory analysis. Soil samples were collected by using properly labeled poly-bag and soil core. Samples were collected into air tied poly bags to prevent the loss of soil moisture. Soil sample preparation In the laboratory, collected moist soil samples were firstly sieved through 10mm mesh sieve to remove gravel, small stones and coarse roots and then passed through 2 mm sieve. Then the sieved samples were dried under room temperature. Determination of soil physical properties Soil samples were analyzed chemically to determine the soil moisture content, particle density, organic matter, bulk density and porosity of soil by conventional methods of soil chemical analysis. While studying soil profile, 4 profiles were studied for differentiation of soil horizons by digging at right angles and with the help of conventional methods. The data were then analyzed statistically (One way ANOVA test was done to know the significance difference among the soil samples of 3 different land uses using SPSS-17.0 package) and then compared using Duncan's multiple range test (Duncan 1955; Steel and Torrie 1980) and finally arranged systematically. Soil moisture content (MC) % Moisture content was determined from samples collected into air tied poly bags. At first exactly 50 gm of field moist soil polybags were taken in pre-weighted porcelains. The soil in porcelains was then dried in an electric oven at 105°C for 48 hours; then cooled it for few minutes and weighed again. The weight of porcelains was then excluded from total weight to get the weight of dried soil. Moisture that was dried up or moisture content of the soil was determined from the difference of initial and final readings. These results were then multiplied by 100 and divided by the weight of dried soil to get the moisture content in percentage. Calculate the moisture content of the soil as a percentage of the dry soil weight (Huque and Alam, 2005). MC%= {(W2-W3)/ (W3-W1)} x 100 (1). Where, W1 = Weight of Petridis (gm), W2 = Weight of moist soil + Petridis (gm) and W3 = Weight of dried soil + Petridis (gm). 2.2.5 Particle density (PD) (gm/cc) To determine particle density, 5 gm of dry soil was taken into a 10 ml graduated measuring cylinder. In another graduated cylinder, 10 ml of distilled water was taken and poured into the first graduated cylinder until volume reaches to 10 ml mark. Finally, particle density was calculated dividing weight by volume of soil (volume of water left in the second cylinder) (Huque and Alam, 2005). 2.2.6 Organic Matter (OM) Soil organic matter was determined by the Walkley-Black's wet oxidation method adopted from Nelson and Sommers (1996). 2.2.7 Bulk Density (BD) (gm/cc) Bulk density is a measure of the weight of the soil per unit volume (gm/cc), usually given on an oven-dry (110° C) basis (Huque and Alam, 2005). Bulk density = (Weight/Volume) gm/cc………………… (2) Dry Weight = W2-W1…………………………….. (3) Where, W2 =Weight of the oven dry soil + Weight of the soil Petridis, W1= Weight of the soil Petridis and volume= πr²h (h= 10cm for 0-10cm depth and 20 cm for 10-30cm depth, π=3.14 and r=1cm) 2.2.8 Porosity (PO) (gm/cc) Porosity= {1- (Bulk density/particle density)} x 100………………….. (4).

Source of Information: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 3, No 3, 2012

Article Link (Online Journal): doi:10.6088/ijes.2012030133016

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Achievement/Findings:

Finally, considering all of the soil physical parameter, it is understood that Sal (S. robusta) plantation is more suitable for this site than Garjan (D. turbinatus) plantation. The study concluded that an in-depth knowledge of the local soil characteristics and associated soil biology is essential for a better prediction and management of long-term potentiality of forest. So, further study needs to carry out on the impact of vegetation and land use variation on biological properties and erosion rate of the forest soil and seems this study will be help the forest authorities to future management aspect as a base line study in this eco-park.

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