EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LAND USES ON SOME PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS ORIGINATED FROM THE VOLCANIC PARENT MATERIALS

Determining the responses of soils to the cli- mate and land use differences is important for the sustainability of ecosystems in the arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, the effect of different land uses on some physical and chemical properties of soils developed over volcanic parent materials under the influence of semi-arid climate in Sivcrck district of $anhurfa province was investigated. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm soil depths (30 samples) in 6 different land uses (wheat, vineyard, lentil, barley, oak woodland and pasture). Chemical (pH, EC, total calcium carbonate, organic matter) and physical properties (hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability, bulk density, tex- ture, field capacity, permanent wilting point, plant available water and infiltration rate) of soils were de- termined and the effects of different land uses on the aforementioned properties were compared. Bulk density and infiltration rate, which are closely related to the fertility function of soils, differed significantly under different land uses (PO.05), while no differ- ence was found in aggregate stability. Soil water content at field capacity and permanent wilting point significantly differed (PO.05), and no difference was determined in the plant available water content. The results showed that the land use types in- vestigated had significant impact on the major soil properties that determine the behavior of the soils, formed over volcanic materials.