The Improvement Effect of Pinus densiflora Forest Disturbed by Human Trampling in the Solbat Neighborhood Park, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to validate the effect of improvement such measures as fence installation or planting of bush and herbaceous plants taken from Pinus densiflora forest in Solbat Neighborhood Park in Seoul, which was damaged by stamping. The study was conducted in 2005 and 2010 in order to analyze changes in planting types, planting structure of Pinus densiflora forest, soil hardness, cross-sectional structure of soil, and physicochemical characteristics of soil. It was also measured by the growth of the branches and the diameter of Pinus densiflora, comparing before and after the improvement to study the effect of restoring Pinus densiflora forest damaged by stamping. When it comes to a change in planting type, Pinus densiflora forest without underlay was reduced from 48.5% in 2005 to 6.8% in 2010. Pinus densiflora forest with bush and herbaceous plants was increased dramatically from 7.4% to 46.8%. Regarding planting structure, in most area of the subject site, Pinus densiflora forest without under layer was transformed into the one with bush and herbaceous plants including Rhododendron mucronulatum, Rhododendron schippenbachii, Hemerocallis fulva, Aceriphyllum rossii, Hosta plantaginea growing in a wide area. The soil in the Solbat Neighborhood Park was very stiff with soil hardness of 54.8kg/cm 2 in average. After the improvement efforts made in the Park in 2010, the soil hardness was mostly less than 4kg/cm 2 , being in a good condition with little influence on the growth of plants. When it comes to the cross-sectional structure of soil, litter layer didn't exist in 2005 because of stamping and the organic matter layer was only 1.0cm thick, which provided an unfavorable condition for plant growth. However, after improvement, litter layer was formed up to 3.0cm and thickness of the organic matter layer also went up to 1.5～8.0cm in 2010 because the damage from stamping was reduced. Concerning the physicochemical characteristic of soil, in 2005 soil showed pH 5.76～6.70, organic matter content 7.15～10.55%, and