Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the changes in soil properties due to differences in forest cover. Ten soil surface (0-20 cm) samples were collected from moist deciduous forest, anjili, teak and eucalypt (uncoppiced, I coppiced and II coppiced) plantations along a transect in Trivandrum Forest Division, Kerala, India. Soils were analysed for particle-size separates, pH, organic carbon, exchangeable bases exchange acidity, total N and available P and K. Bulk density and gravel contents were also determined. The plantation soils were more acidic and they became more and more acidic in successive rotations of eucalypt. Soil properties in the six vegetational types showed significant differences between themselves. The soils in the teak and eucalypt plantations were more coarse and compacted, and were found to be highly deteriorated