Some Chemical Properties of Soils under Different Old Stands on Upper Forest Hill of Kalimpong (Darjeeling), West Bengal

Some chemical properties of soils were studied on the adjacent sites of 52—54 year-old stands of Bucklandia populanea, Macaranga pustulata+Litsaea elongata-+-Alnus nepalensis and Cryptomeria japonica+Michaelia excelsa in Kalimpong Forest Division of Darjeeing district in West Bengal. The maximum organic carbon and cation exchange capacity were found under B. populanea but pH and total exchangeable bases were minimum. The exchangeable sodium did not differ among the sites. Calcium content and pH were highest in case of M. pustulata+L. elonga!a + A. nepalensis. Soil differences related to vegetation were most pronounced in the surface layer (0 — 15 cm) and the effect decreased with increase in depth.