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Amelioration of degraded forest soil by regenerated trees in a community forest at Kabhrepalanchok District, Nepal
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2001 |
| Authors | Malla, M, B.; Baral, S, R.; Howell, J, |
| Journal Title | Banko Janakari |
| Volume | 11 |
| Pagination | 28-33 |
| Key Words | amelioration of forest sites; assessment; community forestry; degraded forests; forest soils; forests; regeneration; soil; chemical properties; soil physical properties; soil types |
| Abstract | An assessment of the site and soil characteristics was carried out in three experimental plots, at Bokse Community Forest, Panchkhal, Nepal. The soil properties were found to vary significantly across the plots. The Degraded Plot with heavy texture and high bulk density had very low nutrient content while the Plantation Plot with quite similar physical characteristic had slightly higher nutrient concentration. The Regeneration Plot, in contrast, had better physical-chemical characteristic than others. Enumeration of all the tree species present in each experimental plot were also made. The Regeneration Plot had the highest tree density while the other two plots had relatively lower densities. The improvement in soil properties in the Regeneration Plot appears to be partly due to reduction in the loss of top soil and partly due to the increased supply of nutrients in the form of leaf litter and root biomass from the large number of regenerating trees. The lack of similar changes in the soil characteristics in the other two plots can be attributed to the heavy loss of top soil through erosion and insufficient cycling of nutrients from the low tree population. |
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