Assessment of soil physical properties under plantation and deforested sites in a biodiversity conservation area of north-eastern Bangladesh Rahman M.H.1,*, Bahauddin M.1, Khan M.A.S.A.1,2, Islam M.J.3, Uddin M.B.1 1Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, School of Agriculture and Mineral Sciences, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh 2Department of Disturbance Ecology, University of Bayreuth, University Str., 3095447, Bayreuth, Germany 3Ministry of Planning, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh *Email: habibmdr@gmail.com; rahman_fes05@yahoo.com
Online published on 6 December, 2013. Abstract 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). Top Keywords Moisture content, Organic matter, Soil particle density, Bulk density, Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Shorea robusta, Tilagarh Eco-Park. Top |