Physio-chemical Properties of Soils of Mangrove Forest in Sundarbans Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out to highlight physio-chemical properties of soils of mangrove forests viz., mangrove scrub, mangrove forest, salt water mixed forest and palm swamp in Sundarbans, West Bengal, India. The altitude of sampling sites was 6m to 7m above msl. The physio-chemical properties of the soils varied with species composition and altitude. Most of the samples were silt-loam in texture. The highest particle density and bulk density was observed in salt-water-mixed forest where as the maximum water holding capacity and high volume expansion were observed in mangrove forest. The highest porosity was recorded in palm swamp forest. The pH values of the mangroves varied from 7.8 to 8.3 and EC ranged from 1.26 to 2.84 mS/cm². The high per cent of organic carbon was found in palm swamp forest. The maximum amount of available P and K was in salt water- mixed forest where as that of available N was in mangrove forest.