Comparison of soil properties of abondoned clay mine, natural forest and stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) plantation

The purpose of this thesis study was to compare the soil properties on adjacent a natural forest, clay mine spoil and reclaimed mine site with Stone pine (Pinus pinea L.). Bulk density, sand, silt, clay, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N), karbon (C) and C/N ratios of soil samples taken from three different soil depths (0-5, 5-15 and 15-30 cm) were determined and compared. Furthermore, the mass, N and C contents and C/N ratios of the forest floor were determined in the Stone pine plantation and natural forest. Almost 24 years after the plantation, 6.79 t/ha forest floor mass of the Stone pine plantation, while it was found to contain 2.71 ton C/ha and 0.04 ton N/ha, which were significantly lower than natural forest. In general, except some exceptions (EC in 0-5 and 5-15 cm, and bulk density in 15-30 cm), there were significant differences on the soil properties. Sand and clay contents were also significantly different depending on the material and mixture. The soil C (1.5-2.1 %), N (0.05-0.06 %) and pH (5.34-5.69) in the Stone pine plantation significantly increased. Despite these rehabilitative properties, this shows that rehabilitation with plantation will take a much longer time compared to the natural forest area.