FEATURES OF MOISTURE RETENTION IN SOIL USING A WETTING AGENT FOR FOREST RESTORATION PURPOSES IN LEBANON

UDC 630*232.216

 

Alam Michel – PhD student, the Department of Forest Plantations and Soil Science. Belarusian State Technological University (13a, Sverdlova str., 220006, Minsk, Republic of Belarus). E-mail: michelalalam@ gmail.com

Nosnikov Vadim Valer’evich − PhD (Agriculture), Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, the Department of Forest Plantations and Soil Science. Belarusian State Technological University (13a, Sverdlova str., 220006, Minsk, Republic of Belarus). E-mail: nosnikov@belstu.by

 

DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.52065/2519-402Х-2024-282-8

 

Key words: wetting agent, forest plantation, soil moisture, soil-water filtration.

For citation: Alam M., Nosnikov V. V. Features of moisture retention in soil using a wetting agent for forest restoration purposes in Lebanon. Proceedings of BSTU, issue 1, Forestry. Nature Management. Processing of Renewable Resources, 2024, no. 2 (282), pp. 67–75. DOI: 10.52065/2519-402Х-2024-282-8

 

.Abstract

This study delves into the pivotal role of wetting agents in bolstering soil moisture retention capabilities, a critical factor for enhancing reforestation efforts in Lebanon’s arid and semi-arid regions. Amid escalating climate change impacts, characterized by rising temperatures and dwindling precipitation levels, Lebanon’s reforestation initiatives face significant challenges. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of various wetting agents’ effectiveness in improving soil water retention, aiming to mitigate drought stress on newly planted seedlings. Through rigorous laboratory experiments and field trials, we evaluated the impact of different concentrations of wetting agents on soil moisture dynamics under controlled and natural conditions. The findings reveal that specific wetting agent formulations significantly increase soil’s moisture holding capacity, thereby reducing irrigation frequency and enhancing seedling survivability and growth. This study not only identifies the optimal wetting agent concentrations for maximum soil moisture enhancement but also offers practical recommendations for their application in reforestation projects. By integrating wetting agents into reforestation practices, this research contributes to the development of more resilient forest ecosystems in Lebanon, providing a scalable solution to combat the adverse effects of climate change on forest regeneration efforts

Download

References

  1. Haroutunian G., Chojnacky D. C., El Riachy R., Chojnacky C. C. Reducing reforestation costs in lebanon: Adaptive field trials. Forests, 2017, no. 8, pp. 169. DOI:10.3390/f8050169.
  2. Mikesell M. W. The Deforestation of Mount Lebanon. Geographical Review, 1969, no. 59, pp. 1–28. DOI: 10.2307/213080.
  3. El-Hajj R., Varese P., Nemer N., Tatoni T., Khater C. Mediterranean ecosystems challenged by global changes and anthropogenic pressures: Vulnerability and adaptive capacity of forests in North Lebanon. Revue D Ecologie, 2015, no. 70, pp. 3–15.
  4. Yasuda Y., Kitagawa H., Nakagawa T. The earliest record of major anthropogenic deforestation in the Ghab Valley, Northwest Syria: A palynological study. Quaternary International, 2000, no. 73, pp. 127–136. DOI: 10.1016/S1040-6182(00)00069-0.
  5. Sattout E., Talhouk S., Kabbani N. Lebanon. Valuing Mediterranean forests: Towards total economic value, 2005, pp. 161–175. DOI: 10.1079/9780851999975.0161.
  6. Verner D. Adaptation to a changing climate in the Arab countries. Washington, World Bank Publ., 2012, 53 p.
  7. Naameh S. Anthropogenic climate change in Qadisha Valley and Horsh Arz El Rab, Lebanon. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347489016_Anthropogenic_Climate_Change_in_Qadisha_ Valley_and_Horsh_Arz_el_Rab_Lebanon (accessed 18.02.2024).
  8. National forest and tree assessment and inventory: Final report. Available at: http://www.fao.org/forestry/ 15565-0f921641e230ef06f11d15b8856f2ff07.pdf (accessed 14.02.2024).
  9. Mantyka-Pringle C. S., Martin T. G., Rhodes J. R. Interactions between climate and habitat loss effects on biodiversity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Glob. Change Biol., 2012, no.18, pp. 1239–1252.
  10. Brouwers N., Mercer J., Lyons T., Poot P., Veneklaas E., Hardy G. Climate and landscape drivers of tree decline in a mediterranean ecoregion. Ecology and Evolution, 2013, no. 3, pp. 67–79. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.437.
  11. Van Mantgem P. J., Stephenson N. L. Apparent climatically induced increase of tree mortality rates in a temperate forest. Ecol. Lett., 2007, no. 10, pp. 909–916.
  12. Van Mantgem P. J., Stephenson N. L., Byrne J. C., Daniels L. D., Franklin J. F., Fule P. Z., Harmon M. E., Larson A. J., Smith J. M., Taylor A. H., Veblen T. T. Widespread increase of tree mortality rates in the western United States. Science, 2009, no. 323, pp. 521–524.
  13. Phillips O. L., Aragao L. E. O. C., Lewis S. L., Fisher J. B., Lloyd J., Lopez-Gonzaalez G., Malhi Y., Monteagudo A. Drought sensitivity of the Amazon rainforest. Science, 2009, no. 323, pp. 1344–1347.
  14. Allen C. D., Macalady A. K., Chenchouni H., Bachelet D., McDowell N., Vennetier M., Kitzberger T., Rigling A., Breshears D. D., Hogg E. H., Gonzalez P., Fensham R., Zhang Z., Castro J., Demidova N., Lim J.-H., Allard G., Running S. W., Semerci A., Cobb N. A global overview of drought and heatinduced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests. For. Ecol. Manage, 2010, no. 259, pp. 660–684.
  15. Barbeta A., Penuelas J., Ogaya R., Jump A. S. Reduced tree health and seedling production in fragmented Fagus sylvatica forest patches in the Montseny Mountains (NE Spain). For. Ecol. Manage, 2011, no. 261, pp. 2029–2037.
  16. Carnicer J., Coll M., Ninyerola M., Pons X., Sanchez G., Penuelas J. Widespread crown condition decline, food web disruption, and amplified tree mortality with increased climate change-type drought. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2011, pp. 1–5 DOI: 2010.1073/pnas.1010070108.
  17. Huang C.-Y., Anderegg W. R. L. Large drought induced aboveground live biomass losses in southern Rocky Mountain aspen forests. Glob. Change Biol., 2012, no. 18, pp. 1016–1027.
  18. Matusick G., Ruthrof K. X., Brouwers N. C., Dell B., Hardy G. E., Hardy G. S. Sudden forest canopy collapse corresponding with extreme drought and heat in a mediterranean-type eucalypt forest in southwestern Australia. European Journal of Forest Research, 2012, no. 131 (5), pp. 1851–1860.
  19. Jump A. S., Mátyás C., Peñuelas J. The altitude-for-latitude disparity in the range retractions of woody species. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 2009, no. 24, pp. 694–701. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2009.06.007.
  20. Sarris D., Christodoulakis D., Korner C. Impact of recent climatic change on growth of low elevation eastern Mediterranean forest trees. Climatic Change, 2011, no. 106, pp. 203–223.
  21. Peng C., Ma Z., Lei X., Zhu Q., Chen H., Wang W., Liu S., Li W., Fang X., Zhou X. A droughtinduced pervasive increase in tree mortality across Canada’s boreal forests. Nature Climate Change, 2011, no. 1 (9), pp. 467–471.
  22. Vila-Cabrera A., Martınez-Vilalta J., Vayreda J., Retana J. Structural and climatic determinants of demographic rates of Scots pine forests across the Iberian Peninsula. Ecol. Appl., 2011, no. 21, pp. 1162–1172.

15.03.2024