ABSTRACT
The present experiment has been conducted in Arboretum of Faculty of Forestry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand state, India planted in the year 2006 with the objective to study the physiochemical properties of soil in selected tree species, growth parameter of different tree species, and to know-how the interrelation between soil properties and tree growth. Seven-year-old plantation in the arboretum was done in the unequal block and, hence, a random sampling method has been adopted in carrying the present experiment. The present study includes Acacia catechu (Khair), Tectona grandis (Teak), Emblica officinalis (Anola), Eucalyptus tereticornis (Safeda) and Pongamia pinnata (Karanj). The soil physical properties such as soil texture, bulk density, soil porosity, water 210holding capacity, and particle density have been analyzed. The chemical properties viz. soil pH, soil organic carbon, and available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium have been determined. Besides these, the growth parameters like height, diameter, and crown width have been recorded. Statistically, the bulk density has been found significantly higher in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Pongamia pinnata, Tectona grandis, Acacia catechu, and Emblica officinalis; while particle density is significantly higher only in Tectona grandis and other species are non-significant. The porosity has been found significantly higher in Acacia catechu followed by Pongamia pinnata, Tectona grandis and rest are non-significant. The water holding capacity is found significantly higher in Acacia catechu followed Pongamia pinnata and Tectona grandis, but others are non-significant. The sand percentage is found significantly higher in Acacia catechu and Tectona grandis; while others are non-significant; whereas in case of percentage of silt, it has been found significantly higher in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Pongamia pinnata and Emblica officinalis, but Tectona grandis and Acacia catechu are non-significant. The clay percentage has been found significantly higher in Emblica officinalis; whereas other species are non-significant. Thus, a physical property of soil has shown improvement in the plated area. In statistical analysis, the soil pH is found significantly higher in Emblica officinalis followed by Acacia catechu, Tectona grandis, Pongamia pinnata, and Eucalyptus tereticornis; while, the soil organic carbon is significantly higher in Pongamia pinnata followed by Eucalyptus tereticornis, Acacia catechu, Tectona grandis, and Emblica officinalis. The available nitrogen is found significantly higher in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Acacia catechu, Pongamia pinnata, Emblica officinalis, and Tectona grandis; whereas, the available phosphorous has been found significantly higher in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Tectona grandis, Emblica officinalis, Acacia catechu and Pongamia pinnata; while, the available potassium is found significantly higher in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Acacia catechu, Emblica officinalis, Tectona grandis, and Pongamia pinnata. The nutrient status in all the species of the planted area has been found in the order like K>N>P. Both diameter and height have been found the maximum in Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Tectona grandis, Pongamia pinnata, Emblica officinalis and minimum in Acacia catechu. The crown width has been found the maximum in Pongamia pinnata followed by Eucalyptus tereticornis, Tectona grandis, 211Emblica officinalis and minimum in Acacia catechu. Results revealed that soil physical properties improved area significantly under plantation. The pH, soil organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), available potassium (K) in the planted area is significantly higher than unplanted area; whereas in case of available phosphorous, it is lower in planted area than unplanted area except for Eucalyptus tereticornis. It may be said that soil pH is increasing in the plantation area showing betterment for tree growth.
