Abstract

This study was initiated to evaluate organic carbon (OC) changes along transects in teak and eucalypt plantations in relation to natural forests. A decline in OC level occurs in teak plantations of Karulai sequence and this is attributable to plantation operations in the early stages of second rotation. Eucalypt plantations at Kadasseri have relatively lower contents of OC than that of natural forest and the trend at Tirunelli is opposite. At Tirunelli, well-established root systems of seedling trees and the addition of branches, twigs and leaves after coppicing promote accumulation of OC