DIFFERENCES IN SOIL PROPERTIES AMONG CONTRASTING SOIL TYPES IN NORTHERN BORNEO

Soil in the tropics is high in diversity, and despite the diversity of Borneo’s forest–soil associations, there is a paucity of data on its soil properties. We investigated the differences between three soil types in the Kabili–Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia, encompassing the contrasting al...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of tropical forest science Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 191 - 202
Main Authors Sellan, G, Brearley, FQ, Nilus, R, Titin, J, Majalap-Lee, N
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Kuala Lumpur Forest Research Institute Malaysia 01.04.2021
Subjects
Aluminum
Analytical chemistry
Associations
Autocorrelation
Bedrock
Ecological effects
Forest soils
Forests
Leaching
Nitrates
Nutrients
Sandstone
Soil erosion
Soil fertility
Soil investigations
Soil profiles
Soil properties
Soil types
Topography
Tropical environments
Borneo
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Summary:Soil in the tropics is high in diversity, and despite the diversity of Borneo’s forest–soil associations, there is a paucity of data on its soil properties. We investigated the differences between three soil types in the Kabili–Sepilok Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia, encompassing the contrasting alluvial, sandstone and heath forest typologies. We examined the distribution of nutrients between soil types and through soil depths, and assessed the extent of spatial autocorrelation in the three soil types. We confirmed the fertility gradient from alluvial to heath forest soil found by others. Soil elemental concentrations declined in deeper horizons with the exception of exchangeable sodium and aluminium that remained constant through alluvial and sandstone soil profiles. Spatial autocorrelation was present in all three soil types and strongest in the sandstone soil. Overall, we show how bedrock, erosion, leaching and topography influence soil properties across this mosaic of soil types and note their importance in influencing tree communities and their ecological functioning.
ISSN:0128-1283
2521-9847
DOI:10.26525/jtfs2021.33.2.191