Assessment of carbon and nutrient storages in deciduous forests on different soil characteristics and parent rocks at Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center, Chiang Mai province

Abstract

The assessment of carbon and nutrient storages in deciduous forests on different soil characteristics and parent rocks was carried out at the Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center (HHKRDSC), Chiang Mai Province. Thirteen sampling plots, 40 x 40 m2 in size, were used for forest vegetation study. In each plot, stem girths at breast high (gbh) and tree heights of all tree species were measured for calculating plant biomass. Fourteen representative soil profiles on different parent rocks (volcanic rock, sandstone, shale, shale-limestone and limestone) were made. The soil samples were collected along the profiles for analyzing physicochemical properties. (1) Dry deciduous forest (DDF) Plant communities: Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis, Dipterocarpus obtusifolius and Dipterocarpus tuberculatan were the dominant tree species in this forest. In the area of volcanic rock (andesite and iron oxides), number of species and tree density varied in ranges of 28-46 species/rai and 275-935 tree/rai, whereas those in the sandstone area were 28- 65 species/rai and 702- 983 trees/rai. Amounts of plant biomass in the areas of andesite, volcanic rock (iron oxides) and sandstone were 88.55-158.19, 103.40-124.16 and 84.04-145.37 Mg/ha, respectively. Carbon and nutrients storages: Carbon: The amounts of carbon in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In the area of volcanic rock (andesite and basalt), the values were varied between 43.74 and 78.14 Mg/ha, while those in sandstone area varied between 41.52 and 71.81 Mg/ha. Carbon amounts in DDF soils on volcanic rock and sandstone were 27.81-54.59 and 10.01-59.30 Mg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total carbon amounts of ecosystem in areas of volcanic rocks and sandstone were 84.26-110.91 and 54.58-131.11 Mg/ha. Nitrogen: The amounts of nitrogen in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of volcanic rocks (andesite and basalt), they were varied between 483.87 and 859.21 kg/ha, while those in sandstone area were 470.24 and 801.83 kg/ha. Nitrogen amounts in the DDF soils on volcanic rocks and sandstone were 1,770.00-2,430.00 and 1,490.00- 8,290.00 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total nitrogen amounts of ecosystem in areas of volcanic rocks and sandstone were 2,353.87-3,015.22 and 1,993.59-9,091.83 kg/ha. Phosphorus: The amounts of phosphorus in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of volcanic rocks (andesite and basalt), they were varied between 69.48 and 125.22 kg/ha, while those in sandstone area were 64.10 and 112.69 kg/ha. Phosphorus amounts in DDF soils on volcanic rocks and sandstone were 0. 68- 4. 02 and 0.50-2.99 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total phosphorus amounts of ecosystem in areas of volcanic rocks and sandstone were 73.50-125.96 and 64.60-115.68 kg/ha. Potassium: The amounts of potassium in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of volcanic rocks (andesite and basalt), they were varied between 333. 56 and 594. 46 kg/ha, while those in sandstone area were 320.38 and 550. 02 kg/ha. Potassium amounts in DDF soils on volcanic rocks and sandstone were 148. 49- 202. 02 and 31.14- 240.21 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total potassium amounts of ecosystem in areas of volcanic rocks and sandstone were 483.33-777.90 and 358.06-790.21 kg/ha. Calcium: The amounts of calcium in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of volcanic rocks (andesite and basalt), they were varied between 703.66 and 1,253.05 kg/ha, while those in sandstone area were 676.47 and 1,161.07 kg/ha. Calcium amounts in DDF soils on volcanic rock and sandstone areas were 59.75-363.49 and 9.67- 224.50 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total calcium amounts of ecosystem in areas of volcanic rocks and sandstone were 763.41-1,339.71 and 724.94-1,271.07 kg/ha. Magnesium: The amounts of magnesium in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of volcanic rocks (andesite and basalt), they were varied between 159.54 and 283.20 kg/ha, while those in sandstone area were 155.92 and 264.85 kg/ha. Magnesium amountsin DDF soils on volcanic rock and sandstone areas were 17.45-96.19 and 3.17-156.61 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total magnesium amounts of ecosystem in areas of volcanic rocks and sandstone were 220.72-300.65 and 160.13- 421.45 kg/ha. Soil types: Both moderately deep and very deep soils were found in the DDF. The moderately deep soils derived from andesite were classified into Order Inceptisols: Loamyskeletal, Isohyperthermic, Typic Humustepts (Pedon 1) and Fine-loamy, Isohyperthermic, Typic Humustepts (Pedon 2). The moderately deep soils on sandstone were Order Inceptisols: Loamy-skeletal, Isohyperthermic, Typic Humustepts (Pedon 5) and Fineloamy Typic Dystrustepts (Pedon 6). As for very deep soils on volcanic rocks (Pedon 3) were Order Oxisols: Fine, Isohyperthermic, Rhodic Kandiustox, and Pedon 4 was Order Ultisols: Loamy-skeletal Isohyperthermic, Typic Plinthustults. The very deep soils on sandstone were Order Ultisols: Loamy-skeletal, Isohyperthermic, Typic Haplustults (Pedon 7) and Fine-loamy, Isohyperthermic, Typic Plinthustults (Pedon 8). Soil physicochemical properties: The moderately deep soils derived from andesite and sandstone were in the beginning stage of profile development with many gravels, rocks and sand particles throughout the soil depths, while very deep soils on volcanic rocks (basalt) and sandstone had a decreased proportion of sand particles from the topsoil and clay particles as well as bulk densities increased with depth. Soil reaction in volcanic rock varied from strongly acid to neutral. On sandstone area, it was extremely acid to slightly acid. Organic carbon in most soils varied from moderately low to very high in topsoils and decreased to low and very low in subsoils. The concentrations of available phosphorus and extractable potassium, calcium and magnesium were very low in most soils except for the very low to medium levels of potassium in Pedon 3. Extractable sodium was low to very low in soils on volcanic rocks and sandstone. Cation exchange capacity was low to high in soil on volcanic rock and very low to moderately low in sandstone soil. Base saturation was low throughout all soil profiles. (2) Mixed deciduous forest (MDF) Plant communities: Tectona grandis, Terminalia mucronata and Careya sphaerica were the dominant tree species in this forest. Number of species in the forest on sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 63-74, 61, and 72 species/rai. The tree densities were 626-889, 621 and 656 tree/rai, respectively. Plant biomass in areas of sandstone shale and shale-limestone were in the following order: 150.00-180.01, 128.76 and 150.00 Mg/ha. Carbon and nutrient storages: Carbon: The amounts of carbon in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of sandstone, they were varied between 73. 98 to 88. 78 Mg/ha, while those in shale and shale-limestone area were 63. 52 and 73. 98 Mg/ha. Carbon amounts in MDF soils on sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 96.49-106.27, 165.88 and 277.48 Mg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total carbon amounts of ecosystem in areas of sandstone, shale and shale -limestone were 173.03-195.05, 229.40 and 351.46 Mg/ha. Nitrogen: The amounts of nitrogen in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of sandstone, they were varied between 810.80 to 991.40 kg/ha, while those in shale and shale limestone area were 700.59 and 810.59 kg/ha kg/ha. Nitrogen amounts in MDF soils on sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 5,660.00- 14,850.00, 6,740.00 and 16, 710. 00 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total nitrogen amounts of ecosystem in areas of sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 6,571.92- 15, 660.80, 7,440.59 and 17,520.59 kg/ha. Phosphorus: The amounts of phosphorus in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of sandstone, they were varied between 114.60 to 132.50 kg/ha, while those in shale and shale-limestone area were 96. 68 and 114. 58 kg/ha. Phosphorus amounts in MDF soils on sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 4. 38-10. 65, 2. 48 and 13. 99 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total phosphorus amounts of ecosystem in areas of sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 125.25-137.20, 99.16 and 128.57 kg/ha. Potassium: The amounts of potassium in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of sandstone, they were varied between 554. 36 to 668. 68 kg/ha, while those in shale and shale-limestone were 475. 98 and 554. 23 kg/ha. Potassium amounts in MDF soils on sandstone, shale and shale-limestone area were 536. 95-660. 94, 633. 66 and 471.96 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total potassium amounts of ecosystem in areas of sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 1, 091.31- 1, 289.19, 1,109.64 and 1,026.19 kg/ha. Calcium: The amounts of calcium in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of sandstone, they were varied between 1,193.79 to 1, 447.63 kg/ha, while those in shale and shale-limestone area were 1,028.59 and 1,193.50 kg/ha. Calcium amounts in MDF soils on sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 245. 92- 334. 56, 773. 23 and 5,669.81 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total calcium amounts of ecosystem in areas of sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 1,439.71-1,782.21, 1,801.82 and 6,863.31 kg/ha. Magnesium: The amounts of magnesium in plant biomass varied among forest areas. In area of sandstone, they were varied between 261.24 to 318.69 kg/ha kg/ha, while those in shale and shale-limestone area were 224. 92 and 261. 18 kg/ha. Magnesium amounts in MDF soils on sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 226. 62- 274. 77, 257. 65 and 1, 673. 59 kg/ha, respectively. As a result, the total magnesium amounts of ecosystem in areas of sandstone, shale and shale-limestone were 533.13-545.31, 482.57 and 1,934.77 kg/ha. Soil types: Both shallow and very deep soils were found in the MDF. The shallow soil on shale was classified into Order Inceptisols: Loamy-skeletal, Isohyperthermic, Typic Humustepts (Pedon 12). The very deep soils on sandstone were Order Ultisols: Fine, Isohyperthermic, Typic Paleustults and Fine, Isohyperthermic, Typic Paleustults Haplustults (Pedon 9, 10 and 11). On limestone, the very deep soil was Order Ultisols: Fine, Isohyperthermic, Typic Paleustults(Pedon 14). As for shale-limestone area, the soil was Order Vertisols: Very-fine, Isohyperthermic, Udic Haplustert (Pedon 13). Soil physicochemical properties: The MDF soils on sandstone and shalelimestone contained high sand particle contents in topsoils and deceased with soil depth, while contents of clay and bulk densities increased along soil depth in most soils except for some remained gravels and rocks having low bulk densities in Pedon 11 and Pedon 12. Soil reaction was moderately acid to extremely acid in sandstone area, slightly acid to moderately acid for shale, slightly acid for shale-limestone and slightly acid to moderately acid in limestone. Soil organic carbon was moderately low to very high in topsoils and decreased with soil depths. Available phosphorus, extractable potassium calcium, magnesium and sodium were low to very low throughout all profiles. Cation exchange capacity was low to medium in sandstone soil, medium to moderately high for shale, moderately high in limestone and high to very high for shale-limestone. Base saturation was low throughout most soils except for low to medium in shale-limestone soil. The soil types, characteristics and plant communities in the DDF and MDF were varied among sites. Different parent rocks were considered and important factor influencing soil types and soil characteristics as well as different amounts of soil carbon and nutrient accumulations.