Soil Chemical Quality and Forest Dieback

Abstract

Abstract-The study was aimed at investigating the effectiveness of recovering degraded soil chemical qualities to mitigate the mysterious forest dieback in a montane forest. Soil amendments with standard compost, montane mycorrhizae, standard compost with montane mycorrhizae, and a control were used as treatments. Syzygium rotundifolium saplings were used as the indicator plant. Soil pH, EC, Soluble soil Pb, Cd and soil organic matter was compared at 0.20m soil depth. Foliar samples from "treated" saplings were tested for Pb and Cd. Contamination of soil and leaves of the saplings with Pb (p <0.001) and Cd (p<0.001) was evident. Positive correlations between soil Pb and Cd and leaf Pb and Cd were observed (p=0.001). Soil amendment with compost and montane mycorrhizae reduced the soluble Pb content (p=<0.001). Soil amendment with standard compost and montane mycorrhizae was effective in saving the saplings from Pb and Cd toxicity (p<0.001).Index Terms-Montane forest, forest dieback, soil chemical properties.