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VOL. 8, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Soil nutrient status of different Sal (Shorea robusta Roxb.) forest ecosystem in Thakurgaon District, Bangladesh
Authors
Md Asaduzzaman, Gazi Mosharof Hossain, Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, Sadia Jannat Mim
Abstract
The present study analyzes the soil
macronutrients viz., nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K),
calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), and carbon (OC), and the
micronutrient viz., zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn)
of the different Sal forest ecosystem in Thakurgaon district of Bangladesh,
using standard soil analysis methods during 2024-2025. Beside these nutrients,
an important chemical parameter, the pH of soil was also analyzed during this
investigation. The average pH values of the study area indicated that the soil
of all selected sites was moderately acidic in nature and the average values of
soil pH varied from 4.51±0.06 to 4.70±0.10. The average values of
macro-nutrients including N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, C (OC) and OM of the study areas
varied from 0.05±0.01% to 0.06±0.004%, 6.39±2.24 μg/g to 51.86±8.96 μg/g, 0.15±0.01 meq/100g to 0.17±0.01 meq/100g,
3.11±1.11 meq/100g to 4.83±0.71 meq/100g, 0.32±0.20 meq/100g to 0.51±0.14
meq/100g, 13.30±6.71 μg/g to 19.44±2.09 μg/g, 0.61±0.1% to 0.67±0.06%, and
1.05±0.14% to 1.15±0.09% respectively. On the other hand, the average values of
micro-nutrients like Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn of the study area varied from 0.57±0.15
μg/g to 0.92±0.43 μg/g, 0.82±0.25 μg/g to 1.32±0.50 μg/g, 57.26±11.16 μg/g to
117.70±50.9 μg/g, and 13.85±1.40 μg/g to 23.96±1.40 μg/g, respectively. The
nutrient status of soil exhibited significant variation across different soil
horizons, specifically in the surface layer (0–18 cm), sub-surface layer (18–36
cm), and substratum layer (36–72) cm. The soil nutritional parameters showed correlation
with one another and also with soil pH at different levels of significance.
Overall, the findings on soil nutrient status indicate that the studied Sal
forests ecosystem of Thakurgaon district, especially, Site B and Site C are
highly vulnerable due to multifarious anthropogenic interferences. In spite of
some common disturbances, Site A is quite good rather than Site B and Site C.
Based on soil nutrient quality, the Sal forest ecosystem of Thakurgaon district
is still favorable for the restoration of degraded forest areas through
implementing and practicing an appropriate masterplan for its conservation, and
sustainable development.
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Pages:53-59
How to cite this article:
Md Asaduzzaman, Gazi Mosharof Hossain, Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman, Sadia Jannat Mim "Soil nutrient status of different Sal (<i>Shorea robusta</i> Roxb.) forest ecosystem in Thakurgaon District, Bangladesh". International Journal of Environmental and Ecology Research, Vol 8, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 53-59
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