Trampling Induced Disturbance of Soil Physicochemical Properties on
Zijin Mountain Urban Forest Park
Abstract
Due to increases in travel and tourism, the effects of trampling by
humans at popular tourist sites have intensified and they can
potentially negatively affect the soil quality. In the present study, we
investigated the effects of various human trampling intensities on the
soil quality in Zijin Mountain Urban Forest Park. The incessant growth
of tourism worldwide has exacerbated the trampling of forest soils but
its impacts on the quality of soil are complex and controversial. Thus
we quantified the physical and chemical properties, and enzymatic
activities of forest soils under different levels of human trampling
(light disturbance; moderate disturbance; moderate to severe
disturbance; severe disturbance; and extreme disturbance in Zijin
Mountain Urban Forest Park to assess the changes in soil nutrients was
altered. The results indicated that the soil water contents, and the
maximum, minimum, and capillary water-holding capacities, etc., these
parameters gradually decreased with greater trampling intensity
increased. The soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities
were significantly correlated with the vegetation coverage (P
< 0.01), which had a negative effect on the soil bulk density
of the soil (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the vegetation coverage
(P > 0.05) had no significant impacts on the capillary
porosity, pH, or catalase activity. The results obtained in this study
provided a reference for soil quality improvement and ecological
restoration. Intriguingly, correlations were found between human
trampling and some soil properties, where moderate trampling enhanced
the soil fertility levels whereas severe trampling decreased them.