Tez özetleri Astronomi ve Uzay Bilimleri Anabilim Dalı

Some Forest Floor And Soil Properties Of Maritime Pine (Pinus Pinaster Aiton) Plantations On Mine Lands In Agacli-Istanbul

Mining operations on open coal mines in Ağaçlı-Istanbul caused severly degraded lands in broad extent. To rehabilitate these degraded lands, plantations on this area began in 1988 in advisory of Prof. Dr. M. Doğan KANTARCI 12 tree species planted, however, the most planted tree species is maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton.).

This study was carried out in 14 sample plots randomly selected in maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton.) plantations planted in open coal mine spoils. Field study was completed in 2005. In each sample plot; tree heights, tree diameters (0,3 m and 1,3 m) were measured. Forest floor samples were collected from 400 cm² area in each sample plot. Soil profiles were dug in sample plots to collect soil samples. Soil samples were taken from 8 different soil layers (0-1 cm, 1-3 cm, 3-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-40 cm and 40-50 cm) via steel soil corers. On forest floor samples; unit mass, total nitrogen (Nt), organic matter (loss on ignition) and ash (mineral matter) properties were found. On soil samples; bulk density, fine soil weight (<2 mm), soil acidity (pH), organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Nt), and sand, silt and clay rates were determined.

As a result, 17 years after plantations, average tree height 7,37 m, mean tree diameter (breast height diameter) 12,07 and stand density (in hectares) 1931. Total forest floor accumulation determined as 17973,2 kg/ha. Total nitrogen, organic matter and ash (mineral matter) amounts of forest floor were 113,90 kg/ha, 14640,92 kg/ha and 3332,29 kg/ha respectively. Organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Nt) and soil acidity (pH) show certain trends down to 10 cm soil depth. Among soil layers, the highest levels of organic carbon (% 1,77) and total nitrogen (% 0,096) were found in 0-1 cm soil layer. Both organic carbon rates and total nitrogen rates increase, pH values decrease from 0-1 cm to 5-10 cm layer.

In conclusion, according to results obtained maritime pine plantations; plantation density and canopy crown covered the area with efficient, accumulation and decomposition of forest floor undergo simultaneously, and depending on these changes organic carbon and total nitrogen rates in soil increase.