Spatial variation analysis of soil properties in coastal forest planting bases - a case study of coastal forests in the Sendai Plain

Abstract

This study conducted multi-point soil surveys of planting bases in a coastal forest restoration area in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, to understand the spatial distribution of soil properties. The four plots set up all had very different physical and chemical properties in the soil, with the poorest growing areas having a pan layer, high moisture content, low pH, and high EC, an unsuitable environment for tree growth. Furthermore, the values of each soil environmental index varied widely within a few meters, suggesting that the soil environment of the planting base in the study area may be highly heterogeneous.