A field and laboratory study for effect of heat on some chemical properties of soils of Northeastern of Libya

Libya is one of semi-arid regions in the world except in a small area called (Aljabal Alakhdar) forests. It is the only wet area in Libya. This region exposing to encroachments such as burning parts of it to convert trees to charcoal trees and other purposes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of heat on chemical properties of soil of Aljabal Alakhdar. The chemical properties of soil following heat in two geographic areas were determined in one coastal (old burned) and one mountain site (recently burned). The properties studied were: soil moisture content, soil particle size, soil electrical conductivity (EC), soil pH and soluble Na, K, Ca and Mg, a soluble Cl, HCO3 and SO4. The results showed except for the soil particle size, heat has a clear effect on the soils in the two studied areas. It is particularly interesting to note that many of the results when assessed by ANOVA, showed these properties were affected by heat and very few of the data sets proved to be showing no or low significance due to the effect of heat. This is still true at the coastal site even though the burned area there affected by heat several years ago. However, the affected parameters showed a recovery towards unburned levels with time, being less strongly different in the coastal site than in the mountain site. Many of these effects are pronounced in the upper soil layer, reflecting the rapid decline in temperatures with soil depth.