Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI)

Tropical forests face increasing pressure from logging activities, necessitating sustainable management practices to balance economic demands with ecological preservation. This study investigates the effectiveness of buffer zones in maintaining soil quality in logged tropical forests of Sarawak, Mal...

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Main Authors: Sundara Rajoo, Keeren, Abdu, Arifin, Karam Singh, Daljit Singh, Irie, Mami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Malaysian Soil Science Society 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/119003/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/119003/1/119003.pdf
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author Sundara Rajoo, Keeren
Abdu, Arifin
Karam Singh, Daljit Singh
Irie, Mami
author_facet Sundara Rajoo, Keeren
Abdu, Arifin
Karam Singh, Daljit Singh
Irie, Mami
author_sort Sundara Rajoo, Keeren
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Tropical forests face increasing pressure from logging activities, necessitating sustainable management practices to balance economic demands with ecological preservation. This study investigates the effectiveness of buffer zones in maintaining soil quality in logged tropical forests of Sarawak, Malaysia. We compared soil properties and calculated Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI) scores across three forest management conditions: natural forest, logged forest with buffer zones, and logged forest without buffer zones. Topsoil samples (0-20 cm depth) were collected from multiple plots within each condition and analyzed for pH, total carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable cations. TSQI scores were calculated following established methods. Results showed that natural forests and logged forests with buffer zones achieved similar TSQI percentages of 50%, while logged forests without buffer zones scored significantly lower at 30%. Buffer zones effectively maintained soil pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable cations at levels closer to those of natural forests. These findings highlight the importance of buffer zones in mitigating the negative impacts of logging on soil quality. The study provides valuable insights for forest managers and policymakers, supporting the implementation of buffer zones as a key component of sustainable tropical forest management practices. Further research is recommended to assess long-term effects and optimize buffer zone design for maximum soil conservation benefits.
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spelling upm-1190032025-08-01T03:17:54Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/119003/ Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI) Sundara Rajoo, Keeren Abdu, Arifin Karam Singh, Daljit Singh Irie, Mami Tropical forests face increasing pressure from logging activities, necessitating sustainable management practices to balance economic demands with ecological preservation. This study investigates the effectiveness of buffer zones in maintaining soil quality in logged tropical forests of Sarawak, Malaysia. We compared soil properties and calculated Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI) scores across three forest management conditions: natural forest, logged forest with buffer zones, and logged forest without buffer zones. Topsoil samples (0-20 cm depth) were collected from multiple plots within each condition and analyzed for pH, total carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable cations. TSQI scores were calculated following established methods. Results showed that natural forests and logged forests with buffer zones achieved similar TSQI percentages of 50%, while logged forests without buffer zones scored significantly lower at 30%. Buffer zones effectively maintained soil pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable cations at levels closer to those of natural forests. These findings highlight the importance of buffer zones in mitigating the negative impacts of logging on soil quality. The study provides valuable insights for forest managers and policymakers, supporting the implementation of buffer zones as a key component of sustainable tropical forest management practices. Further research is recommended to assess long-term effects and optimize buffer zone design for maximum soil conservation benefits. Malaysian Soil Science Society 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/119003/1/119003.pdf Sundara Rajoo, Keeren and Abdu, Arifin and Karam Singh, Daljit Singh and Irie, Mami (2024) Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI). Malaysian Journal of Soil Science, 28. pp. 293-304. ISSN 1394-7990 https://www.msss.com.my/mjss/v28.php
spellingShingle Sundara Rajoo, Keeren
Abdu, Arifin
Karam Singh, Daljit Singh
Irie, Mami
Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI)
title Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI)
title_full Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI)
title_fullStr Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI)
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI)
title_short Assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged Malaysia Borneo tropical forests using Tropical Soil Quality Index (TSQI)
title_sort assessing the effectiveness of buffer zones in logged malaysia borneo tropical forests using tropical soil quality index (tsqi)
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/119003/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/119003/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/119003/1/119003.pdf