Indian Journal of Agroforestry

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different tree species on available macro (N, P and K) and micro-nutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) in soil after their long-term planting. Depthwise (0–15, 15–30, 30–45 and 45–60 cm) soil samples were taken from 20-years old plantation of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis), neem (Azadirachta indica), dek (Melia azedarach), subabul (Leucaena leucocephala), shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), kikar (Acacia nilotica) and siris (Albizia lebbeck) spaced at 6 m × 3 m and adjoining open area (control). The mean height of tree species ranged from 12.7 (shisham) to 25.8 m (eucalyptus) whereas mean diameter at breast height (DBH) ranged from 20.5 (shisham) to 33.9 cm (siris). Available N was higher under leguminous tree species (subabul, shisham, kikar and siris) than other species and control. Available P and K were highest under kikar (29.17 and 580 kg ha⁻¹, respectively) in 0–15 cm soil depth. DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were also significantly higher under trees than control in 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil depths. Subabul and kikar had higher content of micro-nutrients in the soil than other tree species. Macronutrients as well as micro-nutrients decreased with increase in soil depth under all the tree species and control.