Abstract:
A study has been made of the forest soils of the Nilambur Division, Kerala State, to determine the extent to which the morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of the soils are affected by deforestation followed by the maintenance of a pure teak plantation. Profile sites were selected to represent 6 types of vegetation, viz. natural forests and teak plantation of age 1, 15,30, 60 and 120 years. Four profile pits of depth 180 cm. were dug in each of the above areas. The profiles from 120 year old teak plantations represent a teak preservation plot of this age, a teak failurewhere teak was planted 120 years ago, and two plots of second rotation teak crop.
