Abstract

This investigation was undertaken to study the variation in soil properties associated with seven plant communities viz. Palaquium ellipticum-Cullenia exarillata, Palaquium-Mesua ferrea, Palaquium-Poeciloneruon indicum, Mesua-Cullenia, Mesua-Calophyllum elatum, Ochlandra sp. (Reed) -Calophyllum, Ochlandra sp. (Reed) -Poeciloneuron in the wet evergreen forests of silent Valley and Attappady. Five sample plots of 50m x 50m were laid out in each plant community and three soil pits were taken. Soil samples were collected from 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60cm layers of soil pits. Soils were analysed for physical and chemical properties. The soils in the seven plant communities exhibited great variation in many physical and chemical properties, Mesua-Calophyllum and Mesua-Cullenia form a group, Palaquium-Poeciloneruon stood aloof while the remaining four varied markedly from each other and also with the former three. The study revealed that there is considerable variation in soil properties