Deforestation and Afforestation Effects on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties in Forest of West Kelantan

Deforestation and afforestation effect on soil physical and chemical properties are manifold and it can be determined through a comparative study to develop resource management plan. The present study was conducted to determine deforestation and afforestation (oil palm and rubber plantation) effect by considering soil physical and chemical properties of the Sokor Taku permenant reserve forest of West Kelantan. The result revealed that deforestation site contained poor soil quality at both soil depth (0-15cm and 15-30cm) with higher bulk density (1.19, g/cm3 and 1.38 g/cm3' respectively), lower moisture content (23.77%, and 22.09%, respectively), lower pH (4.82 and 4.40, respectively), lower organic matter content (4.64%, and 4.50%, respectively) and lower nutrient contents such as total N (0.80%, and 1.35%, respectively), K (1.70, mg/L and 1.87 mg/L, respectively), and Na (0.50 mg/L, and 0.53 mg/L, respectively) compared to natural forest. Afforestation site (oil palm and rubber plantation) of the present study at both soil layer (0-15cm and 15-30 cm) contained higher bulk density (ranged from 1.19 g/cm3 to 1.34 g/cm3), total N (ranged from 0.73% to 1.48%) and available P (ranged from 0.49 mg/L to 3.14 mg/L) as well as contained lower moisture content (ranged from 19.56% to 22.81%), soil pH (ranged from 4.82 to 5.32), organic matter content (ranged from 4.73% to 5.90%), magnesium (ranged from 1.28 mg/L to 1.91 mg/L) and calcium content (ranged from 0.01 mg/L to 0.02 mg/L) compared to nearest uncultivated land. The present study revealed that deforestation and afforestation (oil palm and rubber plantation) altered the soil physical and chemical properties of Sokor Taku permanent reserve forest of West Kelantan.