International Journal of Forestry, Ecology & Environment
Volume 08 - Issue 01 | Year of Publication: 2025
Article Type: Research Article | No. 31, 2026 | Country: Bangladesh | pp. 283-296 | Open Access
Title: Soil physico-chemical properties of the Chandra Sal forest ecosystem in Gazipur District, Bangladesh
Authors: Sadia Jannat Mim, Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman and Gazi Mosharof Hossain
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18801/ijfee.080126.31
Title: Soil physico-chemical properties of the Chandra Sal forest ecosystem in Gazipur District, Bangladesh
Authors: Sadia Jannat Mim, Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman and Gazi Mosharof Hossain
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18801/ijfee.080126.31
Soil physico-chemical properties of the Chandra Sal forest ecosystem in Gazipur District, Bangladesh
Abstract
The present study analyzes the physico-chemical properties of the soils of the Chandra Sal forest ecosystem in Gazipur district of Bangladesh, using standard soil analysis methods during 2024-2025. The average values of soil moisture content and maximum water holding capacity were found to vary from 10.72±1.95% to 18.25 ±4.04%, and 51.08±2.10% to 55.5±9.47%, respectively. The soil pH of the study sites was indicated as moderately acidic in nature, and the average values ranged between 4.39±0.25 and 4.78±0.24. The average EC, OC, and OM values of the study sites varied from 0.10±0.05dS/m to 0.16±0.02dS/m, 0.44±0.04% to 0.80±0.31%, 0.76±0.7% to 1.37±0.54%, respectively. Macronutrients including TN, P, K, Ca, Mg and S varied from 0.04±0.004% to 0.07±0.03%, 0.74±0.64μg/g to 1.54±0.98μg/g, 0.18±0.03meq/100g to 0.23±0.02meq/100g, 4.42±0.76meq/100g to 5.99±0.15meq/100g, 0.66±0.39meq/100g to 1.17±0.13meq/100g soil, and 24.12±2.82μg/g to 32.72±6.56μg/g, respectively. On the other hand, the average values of micronutrients like Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were found to vary from 1.29±0.8μg/g to 2.37±1.91μg/g, 0.29± 0.07μg/g to 0.97±0.17 μg/g, 10.63±5.52μg/g to 43.59±10.35μg/g, and 3.81±2.42μg/g to 61.97±25.55μg/g soil, respectively in different sites. The physical and chemical properties of the soil exhibited remarkable variation across different soil horizons, specifically in the surface, sub-surface, and substratum. Most of the soil parameters showed correlation with one another at different levels (α = 0.01 and α = 0.05) of significance. Overall, findings on soil physico-chemical properties indicate that the edaphic conditions of the study area are favorable for the restoration of degraded forest areas through adopting an appropriate masterplan for sustainable management and conservation of the Sal forest ecosystem through stopping and/or reducing the existing threats, plantation with Sal (Shorea robusta) plants and other suitable native tree species in the degraded forest areas.
Key words: Soil, Physico-chemical properties, Macro-nutrients, Micro-nutrients, Chandra Sal Forest, Bangladesh.
Abstract
The present study analyzes the physico-chemical properties of the soils of the Chandra Sal forest ecosystem in Gazipur district of Bangladesh, using standard soil analysis methods during 2024-2025. The average values of soil moisture content and maximum water holding capacity were found to vary from 10.72±1.95% to 18.25 ±4.04%, and 51.08±2.10% to 55.5±9.47%, respectively. The soil pH of the study sites was indicated as moderately acidic in nature, and the average values ranged between 4.39±0.25 and 4.78±0.24. The average EC, OC, and OM values of the study sites varied from 0.10±0.05dS/m to 0.16±0.02dS/m, 0.44±0.04% to 0.80±0.31%, 0.76±0.7% to 1.37±0.54%, respectively. Macronutrients including TN, P, K, Ca, Mg and S varied from 0.04±0.004% to 0.07±0.03%, 0.74±0.64μg/g to 1.54±0.98μg/g, 0.18±0.03meq/100g to 0.23±0.02meq/100g, 4.42±0.76meq/100g to 5.99±0.15meq/100g, 0.66±0.39meq/100g to 1.17±0.13meq/100g soil, and 24.12±2.82μg/g to 32.72±6.56μg/g, respectively. On the other hand, the average values of micronutrients like Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn were found to vary from 1.29±0.8μg/g to 2.37±1.91μg/g, 0.29± 0.07μg/g to 0.97±0.17 μg/g, 10.63±5.52μg/g to 43.59±10.35μg/g, and 3.81±2.42μg/g to 61.97±25.55μg/g soil, respectively in different sites. The physical and chemical properties of the soil exhibited remarkable variation across different soil horizons, specifically in the surface, sub-surface, and substratum. Most of the soil parameters showed correlation with one another at different levels (α = 0.01 and α = 0.05) of significance. Overall, findings on soil physico-chemical properties indicate that the edaphic conditions of the study area are favorable for the restoration of degraded forest areas through adopting an appropriate masterplan for sustainable management and conservation of the Sal forest ecosystem through stopping and/or reducing the existing threats, plantation with Sal (Shorea robusta) plants and other suitable native tree species in the degraded forest areas.
Key words: Soil, Physico-chemical properties, Macro-nutrients, Micro-nutrients, Chandra Sal Forest, Bangladesh.
Volume 08 - Issue 02 | Year of Publication: 2026