English

Abstract

The present study was conducted to compare the biological activities and soil parameters associated with leaf litter decomposition under natural forest conditions. Emphasis was given on the impact of decomposition of four leaf litter types of Cassia siamea, Shorea robusta, Acacia auriculiformis, and Dalbergia sissoo trees in enhancing nutrient enrichment and major physicochemical characteristics in afforested laterite wastelands. Comparison of nutrient status of forest soil in Cassia, Shorea, Acacia, and Dalbergia tree stands during winter, summer and rainy seasons indicated that the organic carbon content was high in Dalbergia and Cassia but low in Shorea and Acacia. Similarly, nitrate nitrogen content of soil was also more in Cassia closely followed by Dalbergia and very low in the soil of Acacia and Shorea stands. Available phosphorus content of soil was also high in the soil of Dalbergia and Cassia forests. Shorea stand had the lowest organic carbon content whereas Acacia stand had low concentrations of nitrate nitrogen and available phosphorus. C/N ratio and P/N ratio was highest in Acacia followed by Shorea, low values in the soil of Cassia and Dalbergia stands indicated fast rates of carbon utilization and nutrient release. A general comparison showed that the soil was acidic in nature in all the stands with pH ranging from 5.18 in Acacia to 6.83 in Dalbergia. Similarly, the electrical conductivity of soil was highest in Dalbergia followed by Cassia, and Acacia to reach lowest in Shorea. Electrical conductivity was recorded low during winter and high during summer season in all the tree sites.