Abstract

A study was carried out to examine the effect of monoculture of teak, eucalypt, and rubber along a transect in Trichur Forest Division, Kerala. A linear transect starting from evergreen forest, passing through semi-evergreen, and moist-deciduous forests, teak, eucalypt, and rubber plantations was taken. Five sub-plots of 50 x 50 m were laid out randomly in each vegetational type. One soil pit was taken in each sub-plot and samples from 0-15, 15-50, and 50-100 cm layers were collected. Analyses were carried out for particle-size separates, soil pH, bulk density, water holding capacity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, total N, P, and S. It was observed that all properties exhibited significant difference among vegetational types. Bulk density was increased, organic matter, N, P, S and most cation nutrients were depleted in soils under monoculture plantations. Soils under teak were less deteriorated than that under eucalypt