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Effects of Cardamom Cultivation on Forest Structure and Soil Properties in the Montane Forest of Knuckles Conservation Area of Sri Lanka
By Admin | May 31, 2009
The ecological effects of cardamom cultivation in the understorey of tropical forests have been debated but remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cardamom cultivation and management on forest structure and surface soil properties in the montane forests of Knuckles Conservation Area in Sri Lanka. Vegetation and soil were sampled in forest under-planted with cardamom (mean density of cardamom 6098 stems ha-1) and adjacent forest with a low density of naturally regenerated cardamom (121 stems ha -1). The density of trees (? 5 cm dbh), saplings (? 5 cm dbh and ? 1.5 m height), and seedlings (?1.5 m height) were higher in forests with a low density of cardamom than forests with a high density of cardamom, while stand basal area was marginally higher in the forests with a high density of cardamom. Canopy openness was higher in the cardamom plantation forests (35 8 %) than in the low density cardamom forest (19 3 %). Soil pH and concentrations of total N and ammonium were higher in forests with a low density of cardamom, while concentrations of total P and exchangeable K were higher in the cardamom plantation forests and soil organic matter and concentrations of exchangeable Ca and Mg did not differ. We conclude that cardamom cultivation results in a net loss of stems through weeding and opening of the canopy to promote cardamom production. Effects of Cardamom cultivation on soil nutrient concentrations may occur directly, as a consequence ofertilizer addition, or indirectly as a result of changes in nutrient cycling that accompany changes in tree density and canopy opening.
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