SOIL CHARACTERISTICS IN NATURAL FORESTS AND <em>TECTONA</em> <em>GRANDIS</em> AND <em>ANACARDIUM</em> <em>OCCIDENTALE</em> PLANTATIONS IN KERALA, INDIA

Abstract

This study was initiated to characterise the soils of natural forests and plantations of different species in the Malayattoor Forest Division, Kerala, India. Sites were selected in the evergreen (West Coast tropical evergreen) and moist deciduous (South Indian moist deciduous) forests, grassland and plantations of teak (Tectona grandis) and cashew (Anacardium occidentale). A total of 45 soil pits, 8 each from the evergreen and moist deciduous forests, 20 from the teak plantation, 5 from the cashew plantation, and 4 from the grassland were taken. Soils in the evergreen forest, cashew plantation and grassland were sandy loam while in the moist deciduous forest and teak plantation, they were loamy sand. The soils were moderately acid in all the five vegetation types. Excluding gravel, silt, P, Ca and Mg, all other properties differed significantly due to vegetation types. Soils in the plantations were found to be deteriorated when compared to those in natural forests.