Role of Soil Parameters in Various Forest Types of Mukundpur, Satna Forest Division of Madhya Pradesh, India

The study area was the forest area of 111.55 km2 of Mukundpur range of Satna Forest division, Madhya Pradesh, India which was susceptible to illicit felling, encroachment and illicit mining. To re-vegetate the blanks of the forest, the associations of soil parameters like pH, electrical conductivity, availability of major nutrients and micro nutrients of various forest types were analyzed under the present study.

The stratified systematic random sampling design was used for sampling. The 151 sample points at 30”x 30” were selected and laid on ground with the help of GPS. The layout of sample plot of 0.16 hectare with 9 quadrate of 2 mX2 m on ground was done with the help of prismatic compass. Half kg of soil sample was collected from central quadrat at a depth of 30 cm from the sample point and air-dried under shade. The soil parameters pH, electrical conductivity (mili mhos/cm), organic carbon (%), available nitrogen (kg/ha), available P2O5 (kg/ha), available K2O (kg/ha) and micronutrient analysis for the availability of zinc (ppm), iron (ppm), manganese (ppm) and copper (ppm) were assessed at soil testing laboratory Rewa. The Microsoft access program was developed to evaluate the above soil parameters in various forest types.

Individually, in mixed type of forests electrical conductivity and available manganese had significant contribution but in teak forest type's, electrical conductivity, available phosphorus, iron and copper had significant association. Available iron and copper were the major responsible factors in teak forest type while available manganese was the major responsible factor in mixed forest types individually. The joint impact of available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium did not have any association in the formation of forest types. In teak forest types individually Fe and Cu did have significant association while available Mn did contribute a significant association in mixed forest types.