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Variations in weathering of natural and man-made forest systems in the Southern Western Ghats, India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Soil Science Department, KSCSTE- Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India
  • 2Soil Science Department, KSCSTE- Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala, India

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 10, Issue (4), Pages 1-7, October,22 (2021)

Abstract

The study was initiated to understand the variations in weathering happening in the soils of two distinct forest systems in the Southern Western Ghats, India. Soil minerals are formed by the weathering of parent material, which is the source of soil. Understanding the association between vegetation and soil dynamics is evident and that can be used for the sustainable management of soils. Two diverse forest types including an evergreen forest and a rubber plantation were selected for the study. The soil profiles were dug up to 1.5m and collected soil samples from each horizon. These collected soil samples were used for physicochemical and mineralogical analysis which includes X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. pH was found acidic in both systems. The organic carbon percentage was observed high in the evergreen forest (3.29%) and low in the rubber plantation (0.63 %). The soils in both forest systems were classified to the order Ultisols. The mineralogical studies have shown that the soils of the evergreen forest were least weathered than the rubber plantation.

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