Evaluation of soil nutrients under Eucalyptus grandis plantation and adjacent sub-montane rain forest

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the status of soil nutrients under E. grandis plantation in comparison with that in its adjacent submontane rain forest. Twenty sequare plots, with an area of 20 m×20 m for each, were established in both of E. grandis plantation and its adjacent sub-montane rain forest, independently. Soil samples were collected from each square plot, at five points (at the four corners and at the center) of each plot. The collected soil samples were mixed to make a composite and representative sample for each plot, independently. The analyses were done in a soil laboratory following appropriate methods. The analysis result indicated that there were no significance differences between E. grandis plantation and its adjacent sub-montane rain forest in the level of major soil nutrients (total N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca and Mg), pH and total carbon of soils (p < 0.05). There were significance differences between two sites of forest soils in percentage of clay particles, and exchangeable Na content. E. grandis plantation was found improving soil nutrients and total carbon as compared with that of its adjacent submontane rain forest.

Keywords

Eucalyptus grandis / plantation / rain forest / soil nutrients / sub-montane

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