Abstract

This paper highlights the nature and properties of soils in eucalypt and teak plantations of Trivandrum Forest Division. Nineteen soil pits, 13 from eucalypt and six from teak plantations were taken. Samples from 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm depths of soil pits were collected for particle-size separates, pH, organic carbon, exchangeable bases and exchange acidity analyses. Soils are sandy loam and are strongly to very strongly acidic in the three depths of soils under eucalypt and teak. Gravel contents increase with depth in eucalypt whereas no pattern is followed in teak plantations. Organic carbon contents are relatively higher in eucalypt than in teak plantations. Little difference exists in pH, exchangable bases and exchange acidity of soils under eucalypt and teak