Publication: Impact of National greening program (NGP) to selected soil physicochemical properties in Santol, La Union, Philippines
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Date
2023-05
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Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - North La Union Campus
Abstract
Soil quality remains a prime consideration in the critical assessment of the success rates of any reforestation effort. However, soil information on sites under the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Philippine Government remains insufficient. Hence, the study was conducted to identify the impact of NGP on 14 selected soil physicochemical properties in Santol, La Union, Philippines, with reference to the adjacent secondary forest and grassland. Soil sampling was conducted on each study site at 0-60cm depth, with six intervals (0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-40, and 40-60cm). Soil samples were prepared and analyzed in the laboratory following standard tests. Results revealed no significant
differences in clay and silt contents but significantly different in sand content at 40-60cm depth. The secondary forest attained the highest bulk density at deeper depths, while water holding capacity did not show significant variations among sites. Soil pH and exchangeable calcium were also comparable among sites. The NGP site attained greater soil organic matter than secondary forest but not to grassland. It also exhibited higher total nitrogen content than the reference sites, while exchangeable potassium was generally consistent. Electrical conductivity did not vary among sites, but exchangeable
magnesium and sodium contents varied at certain depths. Strong positive correlations were found between pH and exchangeable calcium, exchangeable calcium and exchangeable magnesium, and total nitrogen and soil organic matter. Strong negative correlation was found between sand and silt contents. Relative to this, the NGP had beneficial effects on improving the soils of reforested land, even exceeding other soil properties within the reference secondary forest.
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Biscarra, J. H., Balbin, N. P. (2023). Impact of National greening program (NGP) to selected soil physicochemical properties in Santol, La Union, Philippines. [Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis] Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - North La Union Campus, Sapilang, Bacnotan, La Union. Lakasa ti Sirib, DMMMSU Institutional Repository.