Abstract
Some selected soil physicochemical properties such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C: N), and soil organic matter (SOM) with soil pH have been evaluated from Shorea robusta and Dipterocarpus turbinatus plantations, and a deforested site, and compared to the surface soil (0-10 cm) and sub-surface soil (10-30 cm) at Tilagarh Eco-park of northeastern Bangladesh. Total 90 soil samples were collected from 20m × 20m plot in two soil depths among 30 from each land use and 15 from each soil depth. The data were analysed statistically through one-way ANOVA test and compared by using DMRT at p ˂ 0.05. The average of the mean value of soil pH (5.33 ± 0.058) was significantly higher in S. robusta plantation (5.6 ± 0.096) than D. turbinatus plantation (5.25 ± 0.042). Available K content was significantly higher in S. robusta plantation (62.56 ± 0.004 mg kg-1) than D. turbinatus plantation (54.74±0.016 mg kg-1). There was a significant difference between P content in D. turbinatus (4530 ± 0.319 mg kg-1) and S. robusta (4210 ± 0.088 mg kg-1) plantations. Total N content was slightly higher in S. robusta plantation (0.11 ± 0.01%) than the D. turbinatus plantation (0.10 ± 0.00%). The mean value of SOM concentration was higher in S. robusta plantation (1.83 ± 0.180%) than in D. turbinatus plantation (1.72 ± 0.026%), and SOC concentration was found higher in the D. turbinatus plantation (2.58 ± 0.15%) than in S. robusta plantation (2.35 ± 0.21%). Finally, the study showed that there was a significant difference in the mean values of physicochemical properties according to two soil depths and three land uses.
