Soil Characteristics and Carbon Storage in Forest Soil of Mae Ya Noi Community Forest, Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research aims to study soil characteristics and carbon storage in forest soil of Ban Mae Ya Noi community forest, Chom Thong district, Chiang Mai province. Twelve plots by 40x40 m were stratified random selected along the latitudinal gradient. One soil pit was made in this forest; the soil samples were collected along profiles for analysis of physical and chemical properties and calculated to carbon storage. It was found that, Species richness of tree species in this forest were 137 (106 genera and 52 families) species. Species diversity index by Shannon-Wiener equation (SWI) was calculated to be 4.74+0.41. The soil depth in this forest was more than two meters. The textures of soil were loamy sand and sandy clay loam and the soil reaction was only strongly acid. The organic matter and carbon was very high in surface soil and high to very low in the deeper soil. Total N was medium to high in surface soil and low to very low in deeper soil. Available P was moderately high to very low. Extractable K was very low to low and very low throughout soil profile for Ca. Extractable Mg was low to medium, but content Na was very low. The amounts of organic matter, carbon and total nitrogen were 291.00, 168.78 and 14.87 Mg ha^-1, respectively. The available P, extractable K, Ca, Mg and Na were 46.64, 529.00, 321.06, 1876.29 and 55.61 kg ha^-1, respectively. Types of vegetation, soil characteristics and carbon storage can be useful in the management of community forest which involves as part of the forest restoration for degrading areas, choosing the right plants and the soil suitable for the growth of plants.

Keywords: community forest, soil properties, forest soil, carbon and nutrient in soils