The effect of overstory layer on soil physicochemical properties in a forest ecosystem

The forest as one of the most valuable terrestrial ecosystems has played important roles in supplying the human needs from past to present. The stability of a forest is depend on its soil nutrient maintenance and understanding soil properties can be considered as one of the basic principles of forest management
In the present study, the effect of overstory layer on soil physicochemical properties of natural and planted forest stands in Chamestan region, Noor, in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran was evaluated. In order to investigate some of the indicators of soil productivity in the study area in each of the stands including natural forest (Acer velutinum Boiss , Zelkova carpinifolia (Pall) , Parrotia persica (DC.) C.A.Mey , Quercus castanifolia C.A. Mey., Carpinus betulus L ), Mixed planted stands (Acer velutinum, Ulmus carpinifolia G. Suckow , Quercues castanifolia, Carpinus betulus L , Tilia begonifolia Scop. Subsp. caucasia (Rupr.) Loria ), maple (Acer velutinum Boiss.) plantation, pine plantation (Pinus taeda L.) and a clear-cut region (control) a number of 16 soil sample were taken at two depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm
As a conclusion, the broad-leaved species were more successful about most of nutrient stocks than needle-leaved stand and control area.
The results showed that soil texture components except sand, were significantly different between the stands, but were not significantly different in different soil depths. Moreover, there was a significant difference between stands and depths in terms of water content and C⁄N ratio, as the highest amount of water content of 19/34 and 18/77 percent and C⁄(N )ratio of 12/91, 11/75 were related to pine plantation and first layer, respectively.