Philippine E-Journals

Effects of forest management practices on microbial biomass, litter decomposition, microbial abundance, and the soil’s physical and chemical properties of replacement plantations after pine wilt disease

Jhonamie A Mabuhay-Omar | Shellajean M Omar | Nobukazu Nakagoshi

 

Abstract:

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of two combinations of forest management practices employed on replacement pine plantations after pine wilt disease. The objective was to measure the soil’s physical and chemical properties, microbial biomass, litter decomposition and microbial abundance as affected by thinning and pruning, and the understory weeding and applications of insecticide and nitrogen fertilizer. This study was conducted in Ryuosan, Higashihiroshima City, Japan. Results showed that the physical characteristics (color, texture, moisture and water-holding capacity) of the three study sites did not differ significantly from each other. On the other hand, the chemical properties (pH, C and N) showed significant differences among sites. The relative light intensity difference (LID) greatly fluctuated and differed. Microbial biomass and microbial abundance were shown to have seasonal variations and lower at the managed sites than at the unmanaged site whereas litter decomposition did not vary significantly. The high correlations among biological and physico-chemical properties of soil at the study sites implied high interdependence among soil’s characteristics.