University of Tsukuba
JDS International Seminar
The Evaluation of Soil Fertility on
Forest Conservation in Myanmar
Tin Maung Oo
201426042
2015/12/15
Outline
Introduction
Methodology
Results & Discussion
Conclusion
References
Introduction
Myanmar
Location
Latitude 19˚,32΄ N and 28˚,31΄ N
Longitudes 92˚10΄E And 101˚11΄E
Area
261,228 square mile (676,581 sq
Km).
(N-S 1275 miles (2052km), E-W
582miles (937km))
Population
54,584,650 (2012)
(Density per sqkm = 72 )
Land Use
3%
20%
47%
Forest
Other Wooded Land
Other Land
Inland & Water bodies
30%
Source : FRA (2010)
Role of Forestry
o 10% of export from forest &
agricultural products.
o 70% of rural population mainly
Depended on forest & products;
- Houses
- Firewood & charcoal
- Agriculture
Forest cover changes during (1990-2010)
70
1.2
60
51.54
49.25
46.96
40
30
20
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
10
0
Mean annual
Deforestation rate (%)
Forest cover (%)
57.96
50
0.95
1
1990
2000
2005
Year
2010
0
1990-2000
2000-2005
2005-2010
Year
Source: Country Report, Myanmar (FRA, 2010)
Environmental Issues
Decreasing forest areas
by
commercial
logging, shifting
cultivation in highland area.
Agricultural conversion and land
used changes.
Lower soil
degradation
changes.
quality,
land
and
seasonal
Soil Information of Myanmar
1. 1955-1957, Myanmar and Russian scientists conducted
soil classification, headed by Dr. B.G. Rosanov.
2. 1965, first schematic soil map of Myanmar.
3. 1970, modified the classification correlated with
FAO/UNESCO classification system.
Soil Classification System,
1. Physical and mineral composition of parent material.
2. The relief (physical feature)
3. The climate under which soil material has been developed.
4. The vegetation.
The soil surveys did not cover the whole country.
Soil Map
Red earth &
Yellow earth
(Ferric Arcrisol)
Yellow brown
Forest soil
Red brown
Forest soil
Source: Myanmar Agriculture and Land use Division
Research Objectives
1. To identify morphology, characteristics
and physico-chemical properties of soils
under different forests.
2. To study the forest types, conditions and
management.
3. To provides references for appropriate forest
conservation.
Definitions
Soil fertility
Soil fertility is the capacity of soil to support plant growth and the many
beneficial processes that occur in soil. There are three major interaction
components, chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the soil.
Forest conservation
The measure concerned with the protection and preservation of forest lands
and resources.
Methodology
Study Area
Mt. Popa
General Features
 Located between 20˚55΄27´´ N and 95˚15΄02´´E.
 Area – 10,000 ha (88.7% forest cover)
 Extinct volcano (last erupted in about 3,500 year ago)
 45 villages are located surrounding area.
 Elevation ranges from 300 to 1500 m above sea level.
 Mean temperature – Minimum 8.52˚C, Maximum 31.30˚C
 Mean annual rainfall – about 1170 mm
 In 1989, subsequently declared as Protected Area (PA)
Study Sites
Mt. Popa
Site 1
Location- N20˚55´24.2˝
E95˚12´59.7˝
Date of survey- 2015/2/24
Site 3
Site 2
Site 1
Site 2
Location- N20°55´29.0˝
E 95˚12´57.7˝
Date of survey- 2015/2/25
Site 3
Location- N20˚55´19.1˝
E95°14´00.8˝
Date of survey-2015/2/26
Reserved forest
Other forest
Camps
Villages
Road
Road
Source: Popa forest Department
Physical conditions of Study Sites
Profile No.
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Altitude
Material
Climate/Weather
Erosion
Drainage
Human
effect
774m
Volcanic
ash
Tropical seasonal
forest climate/
sunny
Very
slightly
Well
None
757 m
Volcanic
ash
Tropical seasonal
forest climate/
sunny
Very
slightly
Well
None
1067m
Volcanic
ash
Tropical seasonal
Pinus forest
climate/sunny
Very
slightly
Well
None
Landscape & Soil Profile Description
Oi
Oe
Oi
Oi
(a) Site 1
(b) Site 2
(c) Site 3
Soil Profile Morphology
Chemical Analysis
Analysis
Method
pH
Glass electrode pH meter
EC
Platinum electrode EC counter
C/N
Dry combustion method with NC analyzer
(SUMIGRAPH NC-900)
Ex. Cation
CEC
Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
(AA-6200)
Stream Distillation Method.
Experiments
Pre-process
EC-Analysis
pH-Analysis
N/C-Analysis
CEC-Analysis
Ex.Cation Analysis
Results & Discussion
pH
8.00
7.00
6.00
pH
5.00
pH (H2O)
pH (KCl)
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
A
Bw
Bt1
Site 1
Bt2
Bc
A
AB
Bt1
Bt2
A1
Site 2
A2
Site 3
AB
Bw
BC
Electric Conductivity
5
4.43
4.5
4
EC (mS/m)
3.5
3.17
2.83
3
2.22
2.5
2
1.54
1.5
1.41
1
1.04
1.41
0.89
1.15
0.84
0.72
Bt1
Bt2
0.97
0.87
Bw
BC
0.5
0
A
Bw
Bt1
Bt2
Site 1
Bc
A
AB
Site 2
A1
A2
AB
Site 3
Ex. Cation
7
Content (cmol(+)/kg-dry
6
5
Na
4
K
3
Mg
2
Ca
1
0
A
Bw
Bt1
Site 1
Bt2
Bc
A
AB
Site 2
Bt1
Bt2
A1
A2
Site 3
AB
Bw
BC
CEC
Content (cmol(+)/kg-dry)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
A
Bw
Bt1
Site 1
Bt2
Bc
A
AB
Bt1
Site 2
Bt2
A1
A2
AB
Site 3
Bw
BC
Organic Carbon & Total Nitrogen contents
60.00
50.00
Content (g/kg)
40.00
TC
30.00
TN
20.00
10.00
0.00
A
Bw
Bt1
Site 1
Bt2
Bc
A
AB
Bt1
Site 2
Bt2
A1
A2
AB
Site 3
Bw
BC
Forest types in Mt. Popa
1.Dry mixed deciduous forest
2.Dry dipterocarp forest
3.Dry forest
4.Dry hill or evergreen forest
Source: Y. Y. Aye et al., (2014)
Dominant Species in DMDF
Scientific Name
SD (n/h)
Relative density (%)
Shorea obtusa Wall.
103
9.71
Croton roxburghiamus N. P. Balakr
100
9.43
Pittosporum napaulensis (DG) Rehder Wilson
76
7.16
Bixa orellana. L
64
6.03
Terminalia crenulata (Heyne) Roth
41
3.86
Flacourtia cataphracta Roxb
45
4.24
Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb
17
1.61
Others
316
57.96
Total
762
100
Source: Y. Y. Aye et al., (2014)
Comparative Study to Japanese Volcanic Soils
Bekkai soil
Mukaiyam soil
Tsutanuma soil
Site 1
Site 2
Site 3
Physico-chemical Properties
Popa Volcanic Soils
Good physical properties.
Medium water-holding
capacity.
Well resistance to water
erosion.
Not so good as Japanese V.S.
Japanese Volcanic Soils
Most volcanic soils have
excellent physical properties.
High water-holding capacity.
Strong resistance to water
erosion.
Good mineral weathering.
S. SHOJI and T. TAKASHI, 2012.
Differences- Age of Eruption, Geology and Weather condition.
Conclusion
 Forest conservation is an important component of climate
change mitigation strategies in the region.
 Higher plant biomass and well developed threes in site 3,
than other.
 Well developed topsoil (organic matters) , wide and deep
distribution plant roots.
 Higher pH, CEC, TN, TC and higher moisture content.
 Well conserved forest caused well developed soil fertility.
 Results provided references for forest conservation.
Future Plan
1. To analyze soil types by Acidic Oxalate Dissolution,
Pyrophosphate Dissolve and Dithionite-citrate
Reduction Dissolution methods.
2. To analyze mineral composition sand fraction and
particle size distribution.
References
1. Y.Y. Aye, et al, (2014), Floristic Composition, Diversity and Stand Structure
of Tropical Forests in Popa Mountain Park. Journal of Environmental
Protection, 5.1588-1602.
2. H. T. Aung, (2003), Myanmar; the study of processes and patterns, former
Rector and former Professor of geography, University of Mawhlamyine.
3. T. T. Myint, (2012), A Study on the sustainable management of natural teak
forests in Myanmar, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences,
The University of Tokyo.
4. S. Shoji and T. Takahashi, (2012), Environmental and agricultural significant of
volcanic ash soil, Graduate school of agriculture sciences, Tohoku university.
Thank You for Your Attention
Tin Maung Oo
201426042
2015/11/02