The effects of trekking activities on physical soil properties in the Bolu-Alada？ fir forests

This work has been conducted to study the effects of trekking activities in Bolu-Alada？ Fir forests on some physical soil properties. A group of one hundred people walked in a straight line in the case study area and their effects one a number of physical soil properties such as litter fall thickness, soil bulk density, soil moisture and soil compactness, were investigated. The study was conducted in three replicates in two parcels in two consecutive years. The thickness of surface litter falls (mm) was measured and its amount was determined in (gr/m2) as the dry weight of soil samples collected in the sample area of 25cm by 25cm during the sampling process. The soil bulk density (g/l) was measured with the sample volume cylinders. Soil moisture (%) was determined based on the differences between the fresh and dry weights. The results indicated that the thickness of surface litter decreased in trekking routes (r=0.568), and the fresh (r=0.440) and dried (r=0.423) soil bulk density increased. However, no effects were revealed on soil moisture. Compared to the control samples, average 14% high compaction was detected in trampled soils as a result of human pressure. Furthermore, the physical effects of the trekking activities caused compactness on litter fall and soil. As a result, such activities may or will eventually lead to the decrease in soil infiltration capacity and thus cause soil erosion and degradation in the future. Received (Geli？): 20.10.2016 - Revised (Düzeltme): 28.11.2016 - Accepted (Kabul): 28.11.201