Effects of deforestation on soil properties and organic carbon stock of a hillslope position land in Black Sea Region of Turkey

Abstract

Article InfoThe effects of deforestation on soil properties and soil organic C (SOC) stock in adjacent pasture and forest areas located on the same hillslope position were investigated. The soil properties measured in the forest site had higher coefficient of variation compared with pasture site. Deforestation made almost 50 years ago significantly increased bulk density (Db), soil pH, exch. Mg and significantly decreased total porosity (F), gravimetric moisture content (W), EC, exch. K, soil organic matter (OM), SOC stock in 0-15 cm soil depth in pasture site. Mean Db increased fom 1.24 g/cm 3 in forest to 1.42 g/cm 3 in pasture while mean values of OM and SOC stock depleted from 4.41% and 30.70 ton/ha in forest to 1.89% and 15.55 ton/ha in pasture, respectively. The reduction ratios in some soil properties by changing land use type from forest to pasture were determined in the following order; OM (57.14%) > exch. K (55.88%) > SOC (49.35%) > EC (45.65%) > W (28.96%) > exch. Na (18.75%) > F (11.32%) > exch. Ca (4.07%). The values of OM and SOC stock had significant positive relations with F, W, EC, exch. K, and significant negative relations with Db, pH, exch. Mg. After deforestation, abandoning cultivated land to pasture had negative impact on the soil properties and depleted SOC stock in 0-15 cm soil layer.

Deforestation effects on soil properties and erosion: a case study in the central Rif, Morocco

“…The loss of soil SOM may be related soil water erosion and mineralization (Sabir et al, 2004;Gülser et al, 2021). These results are similar to those found by several authors.…”

“…These changes in the physical properties of the soil observed in cultivated soils compared to forest soils are the result of deforestation and subsequent tillage, which favors the erosion of the finest soil particles. Several studies have shown dramatic changes in particle size distribution after deforestation followed by cultivation (Nunes et al, 2012;Assefa et al, 2020;Gülser et al, 2021). The hydrodynamic behavior of the soil depends on several physical characteristics such as porosity and bulk density which appear to be most strongly and rapidly affected by forest clearing followed by cultivation (Table.1).…”

“…Indeed, Sabir et al (2004) showed that conversion of cork oak forests to cannabis cultivation has decreased soil OM by 47% in the western Rif in northern Morocco. Furthermore, Gülser et al (2021) found that cultivation of forest soils in Turkey for 50 years ago decreased OM by 57.14%. The highest values of total nitrogen content were observed for forest and varied significantly from cultivated soils in the long term.…”