The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of slope position on some
soil physico-chemical properties .The study was conducted on a pine forest soil , Tartous.
Soil samples were collected from top , mid and bottom slope positions at hor
izon- A and C
of top and mid slope positions and at horizon A,(B)and C of bottom slope positions .
Results showed a significant difference among the physico-chemical properties of top ,
mid and bottom slope soils . Bulk density of the top - slope (1.34 gcm-3) was the highest
followed by mid ( 1.31 gcm-3) and bottom slopes (1.27 g cm-3) .Conversely ,Organic
matter content (2.86%) ,electrical conductivity EC(0.20mmos/cm) , calcium(28.3
meq/100g) , magnesium(6.80 meq/100g) , Potassium (0.21 meq/100g), Soil pH ( 7.95) ,
clay content (38.43 %) and silt content (34.70%) were the highest at bottom slope followed
by mid and top- slopes , respectively . Soil A and C horizon of top and mid slope positions
and A ,(B)and C horizons of bottom slope positions were also significantly different in
their physical and chemical properties . Horizon A had the highest organic matter
,electrical conductivity , calcium , magnesium , silt contents and lower bulk
density,CaCO3, sand contents than both the (B) and C horizons of bottom slope and the C
horizon of top and mid slope .The deterioration in physico-chemical properties of top slope
as compared to mid and bottom slopes and that of A horizon as compared to C horizons
were presumed to be due to past soil erosion effect that removed the finer soil particles
including soil organic matter and other plant nutrient.
The study was conducted at Tishreen University, where laboratory experiments were carried out in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Soil and Water Sciences, while artificial rain experiments were conducted in the Tishreen 16 Dam lake area.
