• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.160-166
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• 2009

We estimated site productivity for unstocked land based on the relationship between site index (i.e., average height of dominant trees at fixed age) and soil physico-chemical properties of Pinus densiflora stands. Site index relates to a direct method of determining a tree's response to a specific environment such as forest soil and climate conditions. We selected 78 sites in 22 P. densiflora stands of central temperate forest zone, and sampled soils for physicochemical analyzing. And 13 properties of soils were statistically treated by stepwise regression. In the degree of contribution of the variables to site index, the highly effective variables in A horizon were OM, clay content, sand content, available $P_2O_5$, and Exch. $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ inorder, and in B horizon T.N., O.M., Soil pH, cation exchange capacity(C.E.C.), and sand content in order. In both A and B horizon of the soil for P. densiflora stands, the variables commonly contributed to the site index were sand content and OM. These results may be useful to provide not only important criteria for establishment of Pinus densiflora stand sespecially in unstocked land but also aguidance for reforestation.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2013

Differences in rates and patterns of nitrogen cycling have been correlated with nitrogen stable isotope measurements in forest ecosystems of tropical and temperate regions, but limited similar work has been conducted in sub-tropical forests. This study investigated patterns in stable N isotopic composition in a subtropical forest in Taiwan by sampling three soil profiles and overstory and understory foliage. Soil ${\delta}^{15}N$ in the forest floor ranged from -1.8 to -1.8‰. Mineral soils had higher ${\delta}^{15}N$ (4.1 to 6.0‰). Foliage ${\delta}^{15}N$ in overstory trees ranged from -6.6 to -2.0‰, and understory foliage ${\delta}^{15}N$ ranged from -5.0 to -1.2‰. There was a weak correlation between foliar % N and ${\delta}^{15}N$ ($r^2=0.214$). Compared to results from similar surveys in tropical and temperate forests, foliar ${\delta}^{15}N$ values were generally lower. These results help highlight the need for improved knowledge regarding the relationships between patterns in N stable isotopes and processes affecting rates of N cycling, especially as related to wider scale patterns in forest ecosystems within the east-Asia region.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 1999

Forest devastation in Korea was caused by several factors such as internal factors from geological features and external factors from artificial forest damages including fuel wood collection from forests, forest fires, shifting cultivations and so on. According to the reports of 1935, lots of forest devastation in Kyungpook province area occurred around the main and branch stream of Nakdong river. Main factors of occurring forest devastation in 1935 were investigated by the methods of forest devastation rate and the population density at the basin of Nakdong river. But based on our study, forest devastation mainly occurred in rock zones of granite and granite gneiss, next to Nakdong formation but scarcely occurred in Hayang formation. Clay of the weathered soils of granite and granite gneiss was lost by rainfall, but remaining coarse-sandy soils(or grits) have poored conditions in vegetation's growth, which are due to high level of water permeability, lack of water-holding capacity and dried conditions. Generally, pine forests are mainly growing up in these regions. It is supposed that forest devastation was accelerated due to long periods of natural regeneration and no ability of natural regeneration by sprout after frequent collections of fuel wood and cuttings from pine forest on those grit areas. These results indicated that the high rate of forest devastation occurred around the basin with the high resident population density, which was partly due to forest damages by fuel collection. Moreover, both geological features and number of residents had much influence on forest devastation. Forest devastation was positively correlated with those variables(r=+0.73).

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.5_2
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• pp.575-583
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• 1998

Physicochemical factors, microbial population size and the properties of the bacterial isolates were assessed to find out the nature of soil ecosystem of Mt. Paektu. Samples were obtained from the surface layer of soils on which specific plant community is developed. Average content of moisture, organic matter and avaiable phosphate of the soils were 21.6%, 17.3% and 2.48mg/100g, respectively. These values were similar to those of developing forest soils, but were slightly lower than those of climax ecosystem such as Piagol in Mt. Chiri. The population size of soil bacteria ranged from 2.7 to $202.5{\times}10^5$ CFU/g.dry soil, and the size is somewhat dependent on the content of moisture and oranic matter of the forest soil. A large number of bacteria was able to decompose macromolecules such as starch, elastin and gelatin. While the distribution rate of resistant bacteria to antibiotics was high, that to toxic chemicals was low. This means that the competition between microorgani는 predominate over the interference with artificial behaviour such as spread of pesticides in the surveyed region. Bacterial species composition of each soil was comparatively simple. Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium and Xanthomonas which are Gram-negative short rods were widely distributed in the forest soils. The endospore forming Bacillus species were also main constituents of the soil microflroa. any one of the strains was not identified as Azospirillum or Micrococcus which are known to be one of major constituents of the forest soil. for the correct identification of isolates chemotaxonomic studies will be proceeded, and the strains are to be stored in the Type collection Center.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.4
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• pp.527-535
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• 2015

With results from previous Korean studies on forest thinning, we conducted a meta-analysis on the effect of thinning on diameter at breast height (DBH) growth and carbon (C) stocks (tree, litter layer, coarse woody debris (CWD), and soils) in Korean forests. Thinning increased the DBH growth and the C stocks in soils by 39.2% and 12.8%, respectively, while it decreased the C stocks in tree by 30.9%. In contrast, thinning had no significant effect on the C stocks in litter layer and CWD. The DBH growth and the C stocks in tree showed significant correlations with thinning intensity and recovery time. The C stocks in litter layer correlated with recovery time while those in CWD and soils did not show significant correlation neither with thinning intensity nor with recovery time. Regression models of the DBH growth and the C stocks in tree were developed to quantify the effect of thinning intensity and recovery time. An integration of the regression model of the tree C stock into forest carbon models is expected to be essential to quantify the effect of thinning on the C stocks in litter layer, CWD, and soils. We also suggested expansion of study species, long-term and frequent monitoring, and investigation on understory vegetation in order to elucidate changes in Korean forests following thinning practices.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.180-194
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• 2023

This study characterize, classify and evaluates the function of topography on spatial variability of some selected soil properties to assist in designing land management that support uniform agricultural production. The study site, an agricultural land, was part of the derived savanna zone in southwest Nigeria. Four soil profile pits each were established along two delineated toposequence and described following the FAO/UNESCO guidelines. Samples were collected from the identified genetic horizons. Properties of four soil series developed on different positions of the two delineated Toposequence viz upper, middle, lower slopes and valley bottom positions respectively were studied. The soil samples were analysed for selected physical and chemical properties and data generated were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that soil colour, depth and texture varied in response to changes in slope position and drainage condition. The sand content ranged from 61 to 90% while the bulk density ranged between 1.06 g cm^-3 to 1.68 g cm^-3. The soils were neutral to very strongly acid with low total exchangeable bases. Available phosphorus value were low while the extractable micronutrient concentration varied from low to medium. Soils of Asejire and Iwo series mapped in the study area were classified as Typic isohyperthermic paleustult, Apomu series as Plinthic isohyperthermic paleustult and Jago series as Aquic psamment (USDA Soil Taxonomy). These soils were correlated as Lixisol, Plinthic Lixisol and Fluvisol (World Reference Based), respectively. Major agronomic constraints of the soils associations mapped in the study area were nutrient availability, nutrient retention, slope, drainage, texture, high bulk density and shallow depth. The study concluded that the soils were not homogenous, shows moderate spatial variation across the slope, had varying potentials for sustainable agricultural practices, and thus, the agronomic constraints should be carefully addressed and managed for precision agriculture.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.317-325
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• 1991

Mineral nitrogen dynamics and net mineralization of nitrogen in oak(quercus accutissima) and pine(pinus rigida) forest soils were studied. Nitrogen mineralization was determined over 8-week period by incubation method at laboratory. Initial water content of incubating soils was adjusted by applying suction(30mmhg), and lossof water during incubation was recovered with deionized water using syringe at every 3 or 4days. Temperature of incubator was maintained with 35+0.3c during the incubation period. Content of organic matter, total nitrogen, nh4-n and no3-n in soils in oak stand were significantly highter than those in pine stand. soil ph was lower in pine stand than in oak stand. initial nh4-n and no3-n of soils used in incubation experiment were 12.6 ug/g and 6.5 ug/g for oak stand, and 5.3ug/g and 5.1 ug/g for pine stand, respectively. Production of nh4-n increased from the beginning st both stands, and showed a peak at 5th week in oak stand(28.5 ug/g) and 6th week in pine stand(16.7 ug/g), and then decreased. intial no3-n of soils in oak(6.5 ug/g) and pine(5.1ug/g)stands, increased to 36.2 ug/g in soils of oak stand(5th week) and 13.4 ug/g in pine stand(4th week), respectively. The low values of no3-n of the field soil in the growing season compared with those of incubating soils at both stands indicate that considerable amount of nh4-n and no3-n produced in soils of oak and pine stands during two-months incubation were 59.7 and 141.6mg/kg soil, and 51.9 and 41.2mg/kg soil, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 1985

Seasonal and vertical variations of abiontic soil carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activities were assessed every other month for a year in two contrasting forest soils and evaluated the relationships between soil CMCase activity and environmental parameters. In climax deciduous soil, variations in CMCase activities caused by differences in sampling time were greater than those caused by differences in soil depth. On the other hand, counter phenomenon was obserned in coniferous soil at the stage of development. Correlation analyses showed that soil CMCase activities were significantly (p>0.01) correlated with microbial respiration rates ($O_2$ uptake) and all of the microbial population sizes. From these results, it is suggested that determination of abiontic soil CMCase activity is an useful additional index for evaluating the overall microbial growth and activity in soils.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.223-228
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• 2010

Soil microbes perform crucial roles in the nutrient cycles of forest ecosystems, by effecting the decomposition of organic matter. Enzyme activities have been used to evaluate decomposition rates, as well as microbial activities. The principal objectives of this study were to determine the activities of different soil enzymes, to compare enzyme activities at different elevations, and to elucidate the most important controlling variables for enzyme activities. We conducted a field survey at three sites in Mt. Jumbong on a monthly basis from May, 2004 to September, 2005. Enzyme activities did not change substantially over different seasons. However, the spatial differences were distinct; the lowest elevation site evidenced the lowest levels of enzyme activity. Soils at the lowest elevation were nutrient-depleted soils, and enzyme activities appeared to be affected by precipitation and temperature. However, enzyme activities in fertile soils at high elevations were associated with nutrients and organic matter. The enzyme activities detected in this study differed significantly at the three elevations, and their controlling variables also evidenced different factors.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 1996

This report is researched on the cause and mechanism of soil erosion in comparison among Kwangnung, Mt. Kaya, Mt. Chili, and Mt. Soorak by physical and chemical analyses of their for- est soils. Clay, silt, and fine sand of Mt. Soorak are far less than those of Mt. Chili, Mt. Kaya, and Kwangnung area while coarse sand is very high level. The clay ratio of soil at Mt. Soorak is the most high level in comparison with that of other area. Denudation at Mt. Soorak, therefore, is cause of erosion by the result of transportation of soil particles. The eroding velocity increase for larger particle size and stronger cohesion between soil particles. Very fine sand, silt, and clay can be present in suspension near the bottom and the size of the particles in suspension depends upon the velocity of the current near the bottom and the roughness of the bottom. Key words: Theoretical analyses, Soil erosion and conservation, Forest soils.