Comparative study on soil properties in a picnic and undisturbed area of belgrad forest, Istanbul.
Loading...
Date
2010-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to investigate the recreational impacts on some soil properties (sand, silt, clay, pH, electrical
conductivity, organic carbon, bulk density, fine soil weight, compaction and saturation capacity), and litter (unit weight-mass, organic matter
content (%) and organic matter mass) properties in a picnic area by comparing an undisturbed area in Istanbul Belgrad Forest-Turkey.
According to the results obtained in this study, the litter mass on the picnic area has been found considerably lower. There were some crucial
changes in the characteristics of the soil which has been investigated in 0-5 cm depth. No important difference had been detected between
the picnic area and the undisturbed area in terms of sand, silt and clay proportions. However, other investigated soil properties in 0-5 cm
depth showed significant differences between undisturbed area and picnic area. Soil was significantly compacted by recreational activities in
picnic area. Moreover, organic carbon content (1.328%) on the picnic area has found quite lower. Depending on the compaction of the soil and
lessen quantity of soil organic matter, the value of saturation capacity (24.13%) in the picnic area was considerably lower, bulk density and fine
soil weights significantly higher. Thus, the soil properties in the picnic area were negatively affected by recreational pressure.
Description
Keywords
Recreation, Visitors’ pressure, Soil, Litter, Picnic areas
Citation
Cakir Meric, Makineci Ender, Kumbasli Meric. Comparative study on soil properties in a picnic and undisturbed area of belgrad forest, Istanbul. Journal of Environmental Biology. 2010 Jan; 31(1): 125-128.