Coastal Afforestation Effect on Soil Physiochemical Properties at Sitakunda Coast of Chittagong, Bangladesh

This study was conducted at Sitakunda coastal afforestation range, comprised of four beats- Bansbaria, Bakkhali, Baterkhil and Bogachattar, in Chittagong. Afforestation effects on soil physicochemical properties in comparison to adjacent barren land were analysed. In the study area, an area of 3277.33 ha was planted with Sonneratia apetala, Avecinnia officinalis, Excoecaria agallocha, Bruguiera sexangula, Ceriops decandra from 1968 to 2011. We found positive soil physicochemical changes in plantations in comparison to adjacent barren land. Soil bulk density of plantation was lower than the adjacent barren land. Soil pH and soil salinity were significantly higher in barren land whereas soil organic matter, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium of plantations were higher in afforested land. Soil texture ranged from clay loam to sandy loam in different depth of these two types of land. However, this study concludes that there is clear evidence that afforestation has positive impacts on all soil properties in different location and soil depths in the study area.