Status of Soil Chemical Properties at Various Depths and Slope Positions Under Different Land Uses in Hill Forests of Chattogram
摘要
Recently tropical hill forests have become unsustainable due to increased demand for different forest products such as, timbers, poles, firewood, medicinal herbs etc. which making to lose soil chemical properties. This study aimed to assess the impact of slope and depth on soil chemical properties. A composite soil sampling was used for sample collection. A total of 36 soil samples were collected. The investigated variables were total Nitrogen (N), available Phosphorus (P), available Potassium (K), pH, Salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon, soil organic matter etc. Study results show significant differences in K, P, salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter between land uses at 15 cm and 30 cm depths on the slopes and at 15 cm depth of the valleys, but no significant differences in most of these variables at 30 cm depth of valleys. The differences in different soil properties are a result of topography, human interference and mismanagement, all of which affect soil fertility and specific soil components. The findings in this research can be beneficial for policymakers in creating and implementing sustainable land use practices, and further studies are required to clarify the relationships between soil nutrient status and other aspects of soil in the hill forest of Bangladesh.