Abstract

A study was undertaken to find out the distribution of organic carbon and different forms of nitrogen in soils under a natural forest and an adjacent eucalypt plantation, established in 1976 by Kerala Forest Development Corporation, at Arippa. The topography and elevation were almost the same. Four soil pits to a depth of 100 cm were taken and soil samples collected from 0-15, 15-50 and 50-100 cm layers. Also, ten surface samples (0-15 cm) were taken at random from the two vegetational types. The paper gives details of texture, pH, organic carbon, total and different forms of nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC), C/N ratio, etc. of soils under eucalypt and natural forest. The study indicates that within a span of seven years, there was relatively higher oxidation in the soil of eucalypt plantation, while in the natural forest, it was practically negligible