Road impact assessment on soil Bulk denity (Case Study: Khojir National Park)

Abstract

Khojir National Park is one of the most important environmental areas of Iran in terms of
richness in biodiversity. Unfortunately, despite its high importance, it does not have a good
protection. The impact of human intervention in this ecosystem is undeniable. One of the
most important processes that influence this process can be the construction and development
of roads and consequently the increase of traffic and human traffic with vehicles,
greenhouses, uneven development of Khojir village and military garrison. This research was
carried out to study the effect of road on bulk density of soil in two roadside and safe area of
Khojir National Park. 15 units were selected at the end of the road, 25 m distance from the
road and the safe area using the Arc GIS software. To examine the bulk density of soil in
each unit, a rig sampling method was used which has more advantages in terms of accuracy
and other features than the Coke-Paraffin method. Soil samples were taken at the beginning
and end of the transect with a length of 200 meters in two depths of 5 and 10 cm by a
rhinestom at a height of 5 cm and a diameter of 7 cm and transferred to the laboratory. Data
were analyzed by ANOVA test in SPSS software. The results showed that the bulk density
was significantly different in the three areas and the bulk density decreased with distance
from the road.

Keywords: ring, transect, ANOVA test, SPSS software