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Social Forestry Potentials of the Degraded Sal (shorea Robusta) Forests in Chandra Area of Madhupur Tract

M. J. Uddin
Soil Resource Development Institute, Khamarbari Sarak, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.

M. S. Hussain
Department of Soil Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

M. M. Rahman
Department of Soil Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

A. R. Mazumder
Department of Soil Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

M. B. Rashid
Department of Soil Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Chandra, the degraded Sal (Shorea Robusta) forest area belongs to a suitable fast growing forest species in respect of environmental settings like agro- climatology, geomorphology and hydrology. The soils under study shows poor fertility status (organic matter contents, soil reactions, C/N ratios, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations) but the Bhatapara soil pedons have the higher contents of nutrients which remain unutilized by the forest species due to its physical deformation. Some important chemical parameters compared with the historical data obtained from the Reconnaissance Soil Survey Report and hence finalized that individual soil pedons are changing in respect of their chemical properties. In some cases, degradation takes place from the naked high terraces. Degraded acid infertile soils can be well managed through fast growing forest species plantation programmes.

Keywords: Topography, Social forestry, Degraded Sal, Dadhupur tract, Agro-climatology, Soil

Location: Soil Resource Development Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Sal

Objectives:

This study was undertaken to understand the extent of soil degradation, the underlying processes involved and to provide a baseline survey of the degraded area taking Chandra Social Forestry as a case study.

Methodology:

Soil samples were collected from four pedons of the degraded Sal forests of Chandra in the Bara Kalampur village. Soil samples were collected to determine the Social forestry potentials of the degraded Sal forests in the areas on natural horizon basis. The area covered by the four pedons of the representative four series, namely; Tejgaon, Salna, Bhatpara and Kalma. Agro-ecological transect of the degraded Sal forest area of Chandra. Some salient characteristics of the four selected soil pedons were presented along with their major classification systems. Agroclimatologically, geomorphology and hydrology of the studied area encounters the adoptability of Social forestry plantations. Chandra Social forestry area is situated on 24°08' latitudes and longitude of 90°23' with elevation of 8.40 mts. Agro-climatic conditions of the area were studied where soil temperature increases 5.7°C at 50 cm depth in January and decreases 3.6°C in June at 50 cm depth. The studied area receives high amount of rain-water and thus allowing the downward percolation of rainfall through the soil profile. Temperature is high (32.2⁰C) during the rainy season. Geomorphology is also an important factor in relation to any agricultural development planning. Nitrogen was determined by Micro-Kjeldhal distillation method (Jackson, 1962). Organic Carbon was determined volumetrically by wet oxidation method of Walkly and Black as described by Jackson (1962). The C/N ratio was calculated from the nitrogen and collected Carbon percentages. pH of the soils was measured by a corning glass electrode pH meter at a soil: water ratio of 1:2.5. Cation Exchange Capacity was determined by ammonium acetate method as described by Black (1965) and the exchangeable Na⁺ and K⁺ were determined from the same extract using a flame photometer (Jackson, 1962) Exchangeable Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ was determined by EDTA method (Jacson, 1962). Exchangeable H⁺ was determined using 1NH₄0AC as described by Jackson (1962).

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. & echo 2(1): 41-50, 2000 (January)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Total nitrogen and organic matter content in top soil were the only two properties significantly affected by the tree species. The leaf litter of fast growing species (A. mangium and A. auriculiformis) incorporates percent total nitrogen 0.10 and 0.12 respectively in the top soil and percent organic matter 2.17 and 2.94, respectively. Deforestation increases top soil carbon emission to the atmosphere because of higher soil temperature, which leads to accelerated organic matter de- compositions pointed that CEC of the mineral surface soils in virgin forest areas was low due to low organic matter contents. Halenda (1988) stated that Acacia species are ideal for rehabilitation and reforestation of the abandoned sites because of its nitrogen fixing ability and tolerance to degraded soils. Nitrogen appears to be the most important nutrient taken by A. mangium followed by calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus to reduce nutrient losses and prevent further soil degradation.

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