Effects of forestry applications to water quality in Kastamonu region

In this study, the effects of thinning made within the scope of forestry practices in the Kastamonu region on some water quality parameters were investigated. For this purpose, the above and below method was used to determine the effect of different cutting ratios made according to the production amounts determined in the forest management plan on the stream water quality. Before the thinning, at the time of the thinning and after the thinning, water samples were taken from two designated points on the stream, twice a month, and their analysis was carried out. The data collection process in the study continued from August 2019 to the end of March 2021. Within the scope of the study, to determine the changes in the quality of the stream water some parameters were analyzed such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved matter (TDS), turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrite (NO2ˉ), nitrate (NO3ˉ), sodium (Na+), magnesium (Mg+2), calcium (Ca+2), potassium (K+) and phosphorus (P+). According to the results, when we evaluate the stream waters according to the Surface Water Quality Regulation, they are in Class I water quality class in terms of pH, Ca, Mg, Na, and K parameters. In EC, TDS, DO, NO2ˉ, NO3ˉ, and P parameters, some of the stream waters are in Class I water quality class and some are in Class II water quality class. It was determined that there was no statistically significant difference in pH, TDS, turbidity and DO values, which are water quality parameters, in the three-month period before the thinning, the thinning time and the three-month periods after the thinning. However, there was a statistically significant difference in EC, NO2ˉ, NO3ˉ, Na+, Mg+2, Ca+2, K+ and P+ values. When the cut-off rates applied in thinning were evaluated as nine groups, it was found that there was a statistically significant relationship between the thinning rates and EC, TDS, DO, NO3ˉ and K+ values; It was determined that there was no statistically significant relationship between pH, turbidity, NO2ˉ, Mg+2, Ca+2, Na+, and P+ values. When the cut-off rates applied in thinning were evaluated as a triple group, there was a statistically significant relationship between the thinning rates and EC, TDS, DO, NO3ˉ, Mg+2, K+2, Na+, and P+ values; It was determined that there was no statistically significant relationship between pH, turbidity NO2ˉ and Ca+2 values. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of the effects of the cut-off ratios applied in thinning on EC, TDS, DO, NO2ˉ, NO3ˉ, Na+, Mg+2, Ca+2, K+, and P+ values; It was determined that there was no statistically significant difference in terms of the effects on pH and turbidity values.