Role of Physiography on Characteristics and Development of Soils under Pine Vegetation and Their Classification

Twelve soil profiles underpine vegetation around Hill Campus. Ranichauri(Tehri Garhwal). U.P. representing various physiographic situations were the materials for this study. Soil structure, surface horizon thickness, organic carbon content, clay translocation and coatings, etc. were influenced by aspect, altitude and slope either individually or in combination. They affected themorphological properties most, physical properties to some extent and the chemical properties least. Generally, northern slopes at high altitude were Mollisols. Entisols and Inceptisols were the other two orders found. At family level, steep sloped profiles were generally loamy skeletal, whereby demonstrating the role of reliefon soil formation in the hills.