J. For. Sci., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/73/2025-JFS

Effect of pine afforestation on soil physicochemical properties compared to pasture land: A case study in KosovoOriginal Paper

Betim Bresilla ORCID...1,2,3, Muhamet Zogaj ORCID...2, Tamás András Szegi ORCID...1, Bekri Xhemali ORCID...3, Gazmend Gjinovci ORCID...3,4, Florentina Racaj ORCID...3, Zenun Husaj ORCID...3
1 Department of Soil Science, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary
2 Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, University of Prishtina, Pristina, Republic of Kosovo
3 Kosovo Institute of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Pejë, Kosovo
4 Department of Plant Protection, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

This study investigates the long-term effects of pine (Pinus nigra) afforestation on soil characteristics in comparison to adjacent pastureland in central Kosovo. Soil samples (n = 24) were collected from two land-use types, pine plantations and grassland, over three topographic positions (lower, medium, upper) and two depths (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm). Standard laboratory techniques were used to determine soil organic matter (SOM), organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), pH (H2O and CaCl2), available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and bulk density (BD). The data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation matrices. The top soils (0–10 cm) beneath pine had higher soil organic matter (mean 2.45%) compared to the pasture lane (1.59%). The SOC and TN levels increased by 43% and 36%, respectively. Soil pH was lower under pine (mean pH_H2O = 6.3) than under pasture land (pH_H2O = 6.81), particularly on middle and lower slopes. Exchangeable calcium and magnesium declined by up to 20% under pine plantations, and bulk density also decreased (for example, 1.15 g·cm–3 under pine land compared to 1.29 g·cm–3 under pasture land), signifying reduced compaction. Phosphorus concentrations were slightly higher under pasture at a depth of 0–10 cm (mean 12.4 mg·100 g–1), but under pine, they increased at a depth of 10–20 cm on top slopes. PCA showed differentiation based on land use, with the initial two components representing 70.1% of the overall variance.

Keywords: bulk density dynamics; land use change; soil acidification; soil carbon sequestration

Received: October 13, 2025; Revised: December 2, 2025; Accepted: December 3, 2025; Prepublished online: December 19, 2025 

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