Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Bunaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.
*Present address: Biomass Research Centre, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, U.P.
Morphology and physicochemical analysis of temperate soil profiles at high altitudes of North-East Himalayas have indicated the preliminary processes of illuviation of bases from upper to lower strata. Surface soil accumulates up to 3.88% of organic carbon and 0.42% of total nitrogen. The C/N ratio, total P/available P ratio in soil strata have depicted a poor potential activity in the maintenance of fertility which is affected by the slow release of N and P from the complex organic and inorganic sources. The soils belong to the order Inceptisol and the near neutral pH is well adopted for the plantation of pine crop. Total exchangeable cations vary considerably in the surface soils as well as within the vertical strata of the the same profile (one metre deep) with their maximum concentrations lying in central region (40–80 cm).
Profile, strata, illuviation, nutrient distribution, soil of N-E Himalaya
