Clear felling and burning effects on soil nitrogen transforming bacteria and actinomycetes population in Chittagong University campus, Bangladesh

The effect of forests clear felling and associated burning on the population of soil nitrogen transforming bacteria and actinomycetes are reported at three pair sites of Chittagong University campus, Bangladesh in monsoon tropical climate. Clear felled area or burnt site and 15–21 year mixed plantation of native and exotic species, situated side by side on low hill having Typic Dystrochrepts soil was represented at each pair site. At all the three pair sites, clear felled area or burnt site showed very significantly (p≤0.001) lower population of actinomycetes, Rhizobium, Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter and ammonifying as well as denitrifying bacteria compared to their adjacent mixed plantation. From environmental consideration, this finding has implication in managing natural ecosystem.