Studying the Effect of Forest Fire on Soil Erosion and Loss of Some Mineral Elements in the Forest of Ein Al-Jaouz/Tartous

This research aims at evaluating the effect of fire on the erosion of burned forest soils after rainfall. The research was carried out during (2010/2011) in a pine forest near the village of Ein Al-Jaouz at an altitude of 900m, north east Tartous governorate. The forest had a fire in October 2009. Ten metal plots (2m2 each plot) were used to evaluate soil erosion, five plots in the burned part of the forest and another five plots in the unburned part. The runoff coefficient, soil erosion rate, soil pH and rate of some mineral elements (Ca++, K+ , Mg++) were estimated and compared in the two parts. This study showed that the runoff coefficient was three times as great on the burned part as on the unburned part, and the rate of soil erosion was 7.22 Mg/ha in the burned part and 0.1Mg/ha in the unburned part. This shows the impact of fire in increasing soil erosion and runoff. This study also showed the difference in cation concentrations in the runoff water between the two parts. The study reveals the importance of protecting forests against fire. This is to limit soil erosion and its economic and environmental consequences.

Ecological factors affecting the kernel productivity of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) in different forest sites of Syria

This study was carried out at three different forest sites in Syria in order to determine the effect of changing rainfall, temperature and soil on kernel productivity of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.)> these sites included: Jabal Alnabi Mata, (Tartous province, L1), Dahr Alkhoser (Homs province, L2) and E′en Jron site (Idleb province, L3). Results showed that kernel productivity of stone pine per tree was 236.3, 252.8, 143 g per tree, and 177, 162.3, and 86.98 kg per hectare in L1, L2, and L3, respectively. These differences were attributed due to the variation in the composition, textured and fertility of the soil available in the three locations studied. It was concluded that trees of stone pine grow better and superior in Kernel productivity in humid and super-humid bioclimatic zone.

Study of Growth Characteristics of Wild Olive Types Selected in Moseif Region in its Original Location (In Situ) and Outside (Ex situ)

This research was carried out during the years (2010 – 2014), in order to study the vigour for trees of six wild olive types which were selected from the natural forest (In situ) in Moseif region, and the vegetative rooted cutting at 4 years old in the nursery (Ex situ) in comparison with The variety Al Safrawi.