Abstract

A study was carried out in selected teak and eucalypt plantations of Trichur Forest Division, Kerala. Samples were collected from 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers of 16 soil pits, one each in 1954, 1974 and 1975 teak (A), 1920, 1934, 1941 and 1944 teak (B), 1976, 1977, 1980 and 1983 eucalypt uncoppied (C) and 1977, 1978 and 1983 eucalypt coppied (D) plantations. Analysis were done for sand, silt, clay, soil pH, organic carbon, exchangeable bases and exchange acidity. Bulk density and percent of gravel were also determined. Percent of gravel and soil pH increased with depth in A, C and D while in B these values decreased. Texture varied from sandy loam to loamy sand in the surface in A, 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers in D, loam to sandy loam and loamy sand in 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers in A, the surface of C and D and 40-60 cm layer in C. It changed from clay loam to sandy loam in the surface to clay loam, loam to sandy loam in deeper layers in B. As regards C, texture in 20-40 cm