The soils status of Chini Watershed, Pahang

Abstract

A study on physico-chemical status was carried out in Chini watershed, Pekan, Pahang to assess the status of physical, chemical and nutrient gradient of the soils. There were three types afforest were recognized in Chini watershed namely lowland forest, seasonal jlood forest and riverine forest. Thirty stations were established represented by 14 stations in lowland, nine stations in seasonal flood and seven stations in riverine forest. For every station, three soil samples were taken at 0-15 em depth using an auger. Based on the texture, 71 % of the soils in the lowlandforest were dominated by clay, 44% of soils in the seasonal flood forest were dominated by clay loam and 42% of soils in the riverine forest were dominated by silty clay. The pH of all the three types of forests was very acidic. The range of mean pH in the lowland forest was between 3.61??0.01 to 4.28??0.05, whereas in the seasonal flood was between 3. 64??0.06 to 4. 39??0.04 and in the riverine was 3.82??0.07 to 4.45??0.05. The range of mean electric conductivity (EC) in the seasonal jlood forest was between 2640??11.54 to 3060??28.86 j.1s. In the riverine forest, the range was between 2720??12.01 to 3110?? 3.33f.1S and in the lowland forest the range was between 2710?? 12.01 to 3300?? 8.81 j.1s. The cation exchange capasity (CEC) values in the study area were low. CEC in the lowlandforest was between 4.58??0.10 to J3.OO??O.1 1 meql100 g, whereas in the seasonaljlood forest was between 4. 63??0.16 to 16. 70??0.21 meql100 g and in the riverine forest was between 5.65??0.33 to J3.88??O.27 meqllOO g. The mean of available phosphorus in the riverine forest was between 11.26??O.27 to 16.98??0.15 j.1glg, meanwhile in the seasonalfloodforest was between 11.40??0.08 to 13. 75??0.29 j.1glg and in the lowland forest the range was between 10.99??O.33 to 14.02??1.30j.1glg. The mean of available K in the riverine forest was between 123.65??23.42 to 221.77??7.38 j.1glg, whereas in the seasonal floodforest was between 71. 94??2.47 to 152.82??/0.51 f.1glg and in the lowland forest was 71.09??2.47 to 229.J3??0.05 j.1glg. The range of mean available Mg]+ in the lowlandforest was between 22.14??3.17 to 116.34??12.14 j.1glg, whereas in the seasonal flood forest was between 38.97??0.34 to 96. 67??12.11 j.1glg and in the riverine jorest was between 52.47??0.47 to 72.97??14.57 j.1glg.