Abstract:
Representative soil samples from various forests were analysed for water-soluble and exchangeable cations, beside other chemical analyses required in assessing the quality of soil for good forest stand. It was observed that arid soils had greater proportion of Ca and Mg, but their soluble content was low. The soils of plains in the Southern region of West Pakistan contained higher salt content, which differed in composition with forest site. General nutrient status for such elements as N,P, and K was low, except for soils of conifer belt which showed high total nitrogen. Soil reaction determined in the suspension of water, and salt solution of KC1 and CaC1 showed that CaC1 could give more representative reaction condition of colloids, since Ca is the common constituent of soils, and the pH figures are least influenced by all other associated factors. Dilution of soil in water was evaluated from a ratio of saturated extract to 1:10, wherein the data showed a suspension of 1:2 of soil to water or electrolyte gave better results; it depicted conditions closer to surfaces of mineral colloids.
Page(s):
161-171
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Forestry, Volume: 15, Issue: 2, Year: 1965