Soil carbon, nitrogen and texture dynamics at root zone and between plants in Riverine plantation of Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Phyllanthus emblica and Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Abstract

This research was objectively carried out to assess the dynamic of carbon, nitrogen and texture at root zone and location between plants. The plantation of Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, Phyllanthus emblica and Eucalyptus camaldulensis of Pragati community forest, Mahottari district, Nepal was selected for this study which was done in 2011. The stratified random sampling was applied to collect soil samples. Altogether 320 soil samples were collected from 0-10, 10-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm depths. The result showed that soil carbon was about 8.16 t ha -1 at root zone which was only 7.56 t ha -1 at location between plants at 0-10cm depth in Phyllanthus emblica stratum. The soil carbon was the least nearly 2.08 t ha -1 at root zone which was 1.59 t ha -1 at location between plants in Eucalyptus camaldulensis stratum. The carbon percentage was the highest about 1.35% at root zone of Phyllanthus emblica stratum. However, the C/N ratio was the highest about 69:1 at location between plants of Dalbergia sissoo stratum. The texture of soil was loamy sand at root zone in Phyllanthus emblica , Acacia catechu and Dalbergia sissoo plantations while it was sandy at both root zone and between plants of Eucalyptus plantation. Plantations have significant effect on soil carbon and nitrogen at 95% confidence level.