Soil compaction in forest soils

Year 2012, Volume: 13 Issue: 1, 66 - 73, 06.04.2012

Bülent Turgut

Abstract

Soil compaction is a widespread degradation process in forest sites. Soil degradation occurring on the structural formation of a natural soil system by rainfall or mechanical outer forces generally results in soil particles to be rearranged tighter than its previous status. In this case, soil compaction -defined as the increase in bulk density of soil- develops with negative effects on soil-plant-water relations. With the compaction, the density of soil increases while the porosity rate decreases, creating a harder formation in soil and consequently lower degree of hydraulic conductivity. Higher soil compaction usually occurs in densely used places including recreational areas, settlements, logged forests, fruit gardens, agro-forestry systems and nurseries. The compaction may occur naturally, but it can also be started by outer factors such as soil preparation tools, heavy equipments, tire traffic, livestock grazing or fires. Besides causing deterioration on physical and hydrological features in growing environments of plants, soil compaction may also lead to physiological degradation of plants and changes on the balance and amount of growth hormones of plants, which, in turn, may limit nutrient uptake. In this study, possible reasons for compaction problem observed in forested soils and its negative effects on soil physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics as well as on the physiology of plants were evaluated.

Keywords

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Ormanlık alanlarda toprak sıkışması sorunu

Abstract

Toprak sıkışması ormanlık alanlarda yaygın olarak görülen bir degradasyon sürecidir. Toprak sisteminin doğal durumdaki strüktürel yapısının, yağış veya mekaniksel dış kuvvetlerin etkisi altında bozulması ve toprak parçacıklarının daha sıkı bir şekilde yeniden dizilmesi toprak sıkışması olarak tanımlanabilir. Sıkışma sonucunda toprağın hacim ağırlığı başta olmak üzere birçok fiziksel özelliği bu durumdan olumsuz etkilenmekte ve toprak-bitki-su ilişkileri bu süreçten olumsuz şekilde etkilenmektedir. Sıkışma, çoğunlukla yoğun olarak kullanılan rekreasyon alanlarında, yerleşim sahalarında, orman istihsal alanlarında, meyve bahçelerinde, tarımsal ormancılık yapılan yerlerde ve fidanlıklarda görülmektedir. Sıkışma doğal olarak oluşabildiği gibi toprak işleme aletleri, ağır makineler, tekerlek trafiği, hayvanlar tarafından çiğnenme ve yangınlar gibi dış etkenler yoluyla da oluşabilmektedir. Toprak sıkışması, bitkisel üretim ortamının fiziksel ve hidrolojik özelliklerinde olumsuzluklara yol açtığı gibi, bitkilerde fizyolojik bozulmalara neden olabilmekte, bitkide büyüme hormonlarının dengesinde ve miktarında değişikliklere yol açabilmekte ve besin elementi alımını da sınırlandırabilmektedir. Bu çalışmada orman örtüsü altındaki topraklarda görülen sıkışma sorununun nedenleri, toprakların fiziksel, kimyasal ve mikrobiyolojik özellikleri ile bitkilerin fizyolojisinde ortaya çıkardığı olumsuzluklar değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

Toprak sıkışması, Kütle yoğunluğu, Orman, Toprak

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