Variation of amount of some nutrients of soil and plant in different aged black pine plantation sites in Inner Anatolia region

Black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) which has the 3rd widest range of distribution in Turkey among tree species is one of the most used species in afforestation with this feature. Thus the aim of this study is to compare some soil properties and ratio of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of needles in black pine plantation sites where planted in 1968, 1973, 1985, 1996 and 2002 (50, 40, 30, 20, 10 years old) in Nallıhan Region where occurs a transitional region property between Black Sea Region temperate humid climate and Inner Anatolia Region continental climate. In this context, litter samples were collected from mineral soil surface and soil samples were taken from 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-40 cm and 40-50 cm soil depth levels in each plantation sites. In addition, needle samples were taken from 75 trees in each sampling area. Electrical conductivity (EC) soil reaction (pH), cation exchange capacity (CEC), calcium carbonate CaCO3) intensity, N and inorganic-organic C contents were determined on soil samples. C and N amounts were determined on litter and needle samples. According to analyses while there were no differences among the OC amounts of soil as the plantation sites get older, it was found that N amounts were higher especially in upper soils in young stands. Although pH and CEC were different among the sites a difference depending on age was not found. On the other hand, it was determined that the amount of litter and therefore C and N amount increased in old stands. In the first 50 cm depth of soil in 1968, 1973, 1985, 1996 and 2002 plantation sites amount of IOC were found 129, 248, 26, 23 and 24 Mg ha-1, amount of OC were found 33, 14, 25, 16 and 28 Mg ha-1 and amount of N were found 15, 8, 7, 9 and 62 Mg ha-1, respectively. While there were no differences among the C ratio of needles depending on tree age. N ratio was found to be higher in young tree needles. Keywords: Plantation, Nitrogen, Black pine, Carbon, Soil.