muthukuribk
Established Member
Soil Conditions and Growth of Teak in Successive Rotations in Kerala State, India
Teak plantations occupy an area of about 69,000 ha in Kerala, of which about 64 per cent is in first rotation and the remaining, in second and third rotations. A study was carried out in teak plantations of first, second and third rotations in Nilambur, Kerala to evaluate the soil conditions and the growth of teak in successive rotations. Twenty-four plantations of 8-17 years age groups were selected. Out of these, six plantations were in the first, 10 in the second and eight in the third rotations. In each plantation, 26, 16 and 17 temporary sample plots ( 20 m x 20 m) were laid out in the first, second and third rotations, respectively, at the rate of one plot per 10 ha of plantation. Soil samples were collected from 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers and analysed. The gbh of all trees in the plots was recorded, while the height was measured on a subsample of trees within each plot. Soil analyses revealed that the soils were sandy loam in the surface and loam in the deeper layers in the first rotation and sandy loam and loam in all layers in the second and third rotations, respectively. The soils were medium acid in all rotations, but a decrease in acidity was seen in successive rotations. Organic carbon contents were highest in the first, while exchangeable bases remained almost same in the three rotations. Total N, available K, Ca and Mg were lowest in the second rotation.
Among the 11 soil properties studied, the discriminant analysis revealed that there was significant decline in soil fertility with change in rotation. Tree height differed significantly between rotations while there was no significant difference in the gbh of trees. Only 14 per cent of variation in tree height could be explained by the soil properties, as height growth is also controlled by a host of other factors. The differences in site index between rotations were found to be non-significant and this could be due to the high variation in site index within rotation. The study suggests the need for careful management of the soil
We are one and only high yielding tissue culture teak producers in India & abroad
*
*
BALAKRISHNA MUTHUKURI
MOTHER AGRI BIOTECH LABORATORIES INDIA PVT. LTD.
BANGALORE.
+919035003471
Teak plantations occupy an area of about 69,000 ha in Kerala, of which about 64 per cent is in first rotation and the remaining, in second and third rotations. A study was carried out in teak plantations of first, second and third rotations in Nilambur, Kerala to evaluate the soil conditions and the growth of teak in successive rotations. Twenty-four plantations of 8-17 years age groups were selected. Out of these, six plantations were in the first, 10 in the second and eight in the third rotations. In each plantation, 26, 16 and 17 temporary sample plots ( 20 m x 20 m) were laid out in the first, second and third rotations, respectively, at the rate of one plot per 10 ha of plantation. Soil samples were collected from 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm layers and analysed. The gbh of all trees in the plots was recorded, while the height was measured on a subsample of trees within each plot. Soil analyses revealed that the soils were sandy loam in the surface and loam in the deeper layers in the first rotation and sandy loam and loam in all layers in the second and third rotations, respectively. The soils were medium acid in all rotations, but a decrease in acidity was seen in successive rotations. Organic carbon contents were highest in the first, while exchangeable bases remained almost same in the three rotations. Total N, available K, Ca and Mg were lowest in the second rotation.
Among the 11 soil properties studied, the discriminant analysis revealed that there was significant decline in soil fertility with change in rotation. Tree height differed significantly between rotations while there was no significant difference in the gbh of trees. Only 14 per cent of variation in tree height could be explained by the soil properties, as height growth is also controlled by a host of other factors. The differences in site index between rotations were found to be non-significant and this could be due to the high variation in site index within rotation. The study suggests the need for careful management of the soil
We are one and only high yielding tissue culture teak producers in India & abroad
*
*
BALAKRISHNA MUTHUKURI
MOTHER AGRI BIOTECH LABORATORIES INDIA PVT. LTD.
BANGALORE.
+919035003471
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