Assessment of Konya Karapinar sand dune afforestations in the perspective of some ecological features

This research, titled "Assessment of Konya Karapınar Sand Dune Afforestations in the Perspective of Some Ecological Features", was carried out in the Karapınar Desertification and Erosion Research Center area. The research area is among the areas under highest desertification risk in Türkiye. In this research, investigations on soil properties and plant growth under different land uses were carried out. Different land uses in the research area are represented by coniferous afforestations (Pinus nigra Arnold. and Cedrus libani A. Rich), broad-leaved afforestations (Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Eleagnus sp. L.), pasture, agriculture and sand dune fields. In the research, a total of 220 soil samples were taken from 60 soil profiles under different land use forms. The texture (sand, dust, clay), soil reaction (pH), electrical conductivity (EC), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), exchangeable cations (Ca++, Mg++, K+, Na+), organic matter, total nitrogen and available phosphorus analyzes were carried out in the soil samples. Soils in the research area are generally determined as clay loam texture with high level clay rates, but very low level clay rates are determined in the dune field with an average of 3,76 %. In all land use types, soil properties were determined as very high in calcium carbonate level, as alkaline in soil reaction, and as very low in electrical conductivity level. Organic matter level in sand dune fields is lower than other land use types. Stem analysis was performed on 18 stem samples (Pinus nigra Arnold.). A total of 104 herbaceous (annual/perennial) plant species, 9 of which are endemic, were determined in 23 sample pilot areas selected within the scope of the research.