Effect of Visitor Activities on Surface Soil Environmental Conditions and Aboveground Herbaceous Biomass in Ayder Natural Park

Abstract

The effects of visitor activities on surface soil environmental conditions and aboveground herbaceous biomass in Ayder Natural Park, Turkey, were investigated. Soil properties and aboveground herbaceous biomass were identified and characterized as heavily trafficked site (HTS), moderately trafficked sites (MTS) and control (non-trafficked site) in grassland in a forest gap. Some soil properties were measured on 60 pits at 0 -5 and 5 -10 cm soil depths. The intensity of visitor activities had a negative impact on both surface soil properties and the aboveground herbaceous plant biomass and root mass in the study area in Ayder. The soil bulk density and soil penetration resistance increased from 0.94 to 1.47 g cm -3 and 0.55 to 1.65 MPa, respectively, saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased from 77.98 to 8.85 mm h -1 , and soil organic matter decreased from 6.71 to 1.77% in moderately and heavily trafficked sites, respectively, at 0 -5 cm soil depth. The soil properties were degraded at both the surface layer and the subsurface layer and the greatest degradation was measured in the heavily trafficked site followed by the moderately trafficked site. There was a strong negative linear relationship between soil degradation and aboveground herbaceous plant biomass, which decreased by 50.05 and 78.19% in moderately and heavily trafficked sites, respectively.

Effects of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Physical Properties in the Wind–Water Erosion Region of the Northern Loess Plateau of China

“…RG soils had higher bulk densities than cultivated soils, possibly due in part to trampling when the alfalfa was mown manually by local farmers. This is in agreement with previous study that showed heavy pedestrian traffic can have a negative impact on surface soil properties [31]. Cropland soils had lower bulk densities, mainly presumably because of tillage management ( p < 0.05).…”

The effects of land use changes and management types on surface soil properties in Kafkasör protected area in Artvin, Turkey

“…The significant increase in bulk density ( D b ) and SPR, and significant decrease in total porosity and SOM possibly affected FC, PWP and PAW values (see Table II). Froehlich and McNabb (1983) and Yüksek (2009) reported that soil compaction has a variable effect on water characteristic of soils.…”

Effects of Afforestation on Soil Bulk Density and pH in the Loess Plateau, China

“…High ρ s under the cultivated treatment was attributed to the high-frequency of trampling occasioned by human activities [11,51]. Especially during the harvest season, an escalated use of agricultural machinery as well as regular human activities contributed to even greater soil compaction, further increasing ρ s [51,54]. Under the abandoned treatment, the higher ρ s may be attributable to a lack of extensive strong roots [6,52].…”

“…However, the current study found that the mean ρ s under the 16-year-old apricot treatment was significantly lower than that under the 40-year-old treatment (Figure 3). This was likely related to: (1) the reduction of AGB and SD with increasing apricot stand age (Table 2) [52,53]; (2) greater compaction under the 40-year-old treatment [54]; and (3) root growth under the 16-year-old apricot treatment loosening the soils, whereas, after 40 years, apricot root growth had slowed or stopped, reducing their loosening effect on the soil. Soil pH also varied significantly with stand age.…”