Soil chemical properties of Cedrus deodara (roxb) g.don. forest soil in Garhwal Himalaya, India

A study was carried out in moist temperate forest of Cedrus deodara in different parts of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of soils. The random sampling was carried out in ten different forests sites by laying out three 0.1 ha sample plots in each sites. Soil samples were collected from each sample plot at three different soil depths viz. (i) ‘Upper’ (0–10 cm), (ii) ‘Middle’ (11–30 cm), and (iii) ‘Lower’ (31–60 cm) in all the selected forest types. Values of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH and Electrical conductivity ranged between 1.34 and 1.61%, 0.40 and 0.49%, 5.22 and 7.22 kg acre⁻¹, 84.56 and 243.44 kg acre⁻¹, 6.28 and 7, 0.07 and 0.17 dS m⁻¹ respectively. The values of soil chemical properties of the present study in most of sites are on the higher end than the previously recorded values for the other similar forests of the region. The possible reason being luxuriant vegetation and undisturbed nature of these forest types, which is evident from higher values of diversity and other parameters.