Predicting soil erosion in oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) stands in Eastern black sea region of Turkey


HACISALİHOĞLU S., OKTAN E., YÜCESAN Z.

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, vol.5, no.16, pp.2200-2214, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 5 Issue: 16
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Journal Name: AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2200-2214
  • Keywords: Soil loss, tolerance tree line, timberline, subalpine zone, MOUNTAIN FORESTS, VEGETATION
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Human induced pressures on the natural resources are still in progress and the conservation efforts, too. The need for sufficient knowledge and data for the decision makers is obvious. This study is aimed to contribute this absence. The study area Camlihemsin district Kito mountain is situated in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey and characterized by a humid climate covered with natural growth oriental spruce stands. The canopy closures of the Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) stands (Treeline, Timberline, Regular forest) varies between 0 to 90% in the study area, including Kito mountain occupied forest and pasture lands. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) simulation model was used to predict the soil loss amounts in the study area. The results show that the predicted average soil loss amount is 29.79 (ton/ha/year). The average soil depth is about 26 cm and the soil loss tolerance limit is widely exceeded especially in the pasture lands, control plots, tree line zone and timberline zone in the study area.