Fertility Characteristics of Oxic Dystrustepts under Natural Forest,Rubber, and Teak Plantations in Different Seasons,Kerala, South India

Influences of three different vegetations (forests, teak plantation, and rubber plantation) on certain soil fertility parameters of Oxic Dystrustepts in the Western Ghats of southern India are compared. Soil samples collected from 10 different sites under each of the three vegetations in different seasons are analyzed. Soil sampling and physicochemical analyses were carried out as per standard methods. Significant variation was found in soil parameters over the plantations and forest in different seasons. Even though the rubber plantations received chemical fertilizers during two seasons, the average plant-available phosphorus alone exceeded in this soil than that in the forest soil. Specific influence of vegetations on fertility parameters in Oxic Dystrustepts could be traced. The influence of rubber plantations on soil fertility was more negative than that of teak plantations. Vegetational influence on soil fertility characteristics has applications in the development of sustainable agro-ecosystems in biodiversity-rich tropics.