Farklı Bitki Örtüsü Altındaki Topraklarda Mineralleşme Potansiyeli (Artvin-Genya Dağı Yöresi- Türkiye)

In this study was conducted to investigate mineralization potentials of different land uses in the area of Genya Mountain-Artvin in 2011. For these purposes, soil samples were taken from surface 0-15 cm depth in young spruce stands, old spruce stands and spruce stand with Rhododendron understory, and adjacent grassland sites with similar parent material, slope and aspect. Samples were subjected to standard incubation technique in laboratory conditions (60% MSK and 25°C). Mineralization rate differed significantly among sites. Nitrification rates were significantly higher in grassland sites compared to other sites (174.61 N ha 21 day-1). There was a strong positive correlation between nitrate production rate and soil organic matter content (r2=0.70) and total N contents of soils (r2=0.80). There was also a negative correlation between nitrification rate and C/N content (r2=-0.48). Although soil organic matter contents of soils were relatively high, N mineralization rate wasn’t as high as expected. It was argued that the reason behind these lower rates was relatively high acidity in soils of the sites.