Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.

, 24 (4) : (601-602) 2011

Characterization of soil properties from fresh water swamps and adjoining evergreen forest area
A fresh water swamp is a shallow body of water in a low lying suspension in the ratio of 1: 2.5 by using conductivity meter
poorly drained depression, usually containing abundant plant (Systronics Model: 306) and expressed as dS/m
growth dominated by trees and high shrubs in tropics and (Tandon,2004).The organic carbon content of a finely ground
sphagnum mosses, grasses and rushes in temperate climates. soil sample was determined by Walkely and Blacks wet oxidation
Because the bottom of a swamp is at or below the water table, method as described by Tandon (2004) and expressed in
swamps serve to channel run-off into the ground water supply, percentage. Available nitrogen was determined by modified
thus helping to keep the water table stable (Raghu et al., 2006). alkaline potassium permanganate method as described by Gupta
The unique feature of swamps is to control floods during (2006). Available Phosphorus was determined by Brays Method
rainy season and help to stabilize water table. These wetlands as outlined by Tandon (2004) by using Systronics
also play a critical role in storing the water and maintaining Spectrophotometer (Model: 117). Available potassium was
ground water level (Roby and Nair, 2006). The swamps also extracted with neutral ammonium acetate (pH 7.0) and the
play dominant role such as nutrient cycling and microbial potassium content in the solution was estimated by Systronics
relationship which enhance the plant animal interaction. Flame Photometer Model: 128 following Tandon (2004).
Swamps are the specimens of original ecosystem which are Exchangeable calcium and magnesium were determined by
known to shelter many endemic, endangered medicinal species varsanate titration method after extracting the soil with neutral
such as Myristica fatua var. mangifica and Gymnacranthera normal ammonium acetate solution as described by Tandon
canarica etc. (Umashankar et al., 1997). These swamps are (2004).Available sulphur was extracted with 0.15 per cent
virtually live-museums of ancient life of great interest to CaCl2.2H2O and estimated by turbidometric method as described
biologists. However, recently because of forest fragmentation, by Tandon (2004).Available zinc, copper, iron and Manganese
these valuable patches of unique vegetation are on the road to were extracted by using DTPA Extractant as explained by
extinction (Chandaran et al., 2002). Lindsay and Norvell (1978). The concentration of Zinc, Copper,
In the recent past, there is a great pressure on these Iron and Manganese in the extract was estimated using Atomic
freshwater swamps because of increasing human interference. Absorption Spectrometer (AAS).
Most of the swamps in Uttara Kannada district are being The soils of Uttara Kannada are derived from metamorphic
converted into arecanut garden and paddy fields. This leads to parent rock, resulting in lateritic soil formation. Basically lateritic
changes in soil property and thereby these swamps become soils are acidic in pH. A perennial anaerobic condition in the
seasonal and such swamp species fail to regenerate. swamp may be responsible for further decrease in the pH and EC.
Considering enormous value and uniqueness of these swamps, Water logged condition in swamp results in high leaching
it is necessary to evolve strategies for their conservation and losses of nitrogen. This may be the reason for lower available N
management in a sustainable manner. Although swamps are in swamp soils when compared to soils from nearby forest area
recognized as unique, relic habitats of the Western Ghats yet albeit the available N is far higher compared to crop lands. These
they have been rarely subjected to the soil analysis. A cursory microhabitat changes in the swamp may be more important in
observation of the rooting pattern of vegetation suggests the restricting the species composition. Raghu (2006) concluded
prevalence of anaerobic condition in these habitats, when that NPK content of the swamp soils were lower than other
compared to adjacent evergreen forests and thus differ grossly
Table 1. Comparison of chemical properties of swamp of adjoining
with evergreen forests. This aspect may have an over-riding
ever-green forests
influence on the vegetation of the swamps. Keeping these
Soil parameters Soil from Soil from adjoining
points in view, the present study was undertaken to know the
swamp evergreen forest
uniqueness of this specific swamp with respect to its soil
Mean SD
chemical properties of soils.
pH (1:2 soil: water) 5.29 0.38 5.7 0.11
The study was conducted in 2008-09, the swamp habitat of
EC (dS/m) (1:2 soil: water) 0.05 0.01 0.13 0.06
Thorme in the Siddapur range of Sirsi forest division in central
Organic carbon (g kg-1) 17.3 0.09 33.6 0.28*
Western Ghats. Soil samples were collected from both the Available nitrogen(kg/ha) 287.46 17.10 545.06 57.47*
populations by following standardized methodology. After Available phosphorus (kg/ha) 4.73 0.94 23.61 1.86*
scraping out the litter, soil samples were collected from 15 cm Available potassium (kg/ha) 121.33 3.21 290.00 10.0*
depth. Soil samples from 6-7 spots were pooled to represent the Ca (m.eq/100 g) 1.04 0.31 7.02 0.149*
each study population by following Quartering technique Mg (m.eq/100 g) 0.52 0.11 3.0 0.28*
Jackson (1973). Soil samples were also collected from adjacent Available sulphur (ppm) 19.16 5.05 15.41 15.82
non- swampy forest for comparison. Soil moisture was Zinc (ppm) 0.97 0.89 0.78 0.10
determined by gravimetric method as described by Gupta Iron (ppm) 49.39 2.08 25.56 1.09**
(2006).The soil reaction (pH) was determined in soil-water Manganese (ppm) 51.30 19.10 39.42 17.88
Copper (ppm) 1.85 0.19 1.30 0.14**
suspension in the ratio of 1:2.5 by Potentiometric Method using
pH Meter (Systronics Model: 361) as described by Tandon
* difference between the two is significant at 0.01 level
(2004). Electrical conductivity was determined in soil-water ** difference between the two is significant at 0.05 P level
601
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (4) : 2011

forest ecosystem. Total nitrogen also showed positive relation
with tree height and basal area (Singh et al., 1990). A good
regeneration was observed in soils where phosphorous ranged
between 0.002 and 0.108 per cent (Bhatia, 1954).
The fresh water swamps are associated with abundant and often
unique plant growth dominated by trees and high shrubs in the
tropics. These microhabitat changes in the swamp may be more
important in the restricting the species like Semecarpus
kathalekanensis, Myristica faruva var. Magnifica, Gymnocrathaera
canarica to swamps only. Fresh water swamps in India, wherever
they occur appear to be the most threatened ecosystems due to the
mounting anthropogenic pressures on them. The study suggested
that soil is the most dominant factor which decides the species pattern,
distribution and status of nutrients in soil.

Department of Forest Biology & Tree Improvement P. K. VIJAYAKUMAR

College of Forestry, Sirsi R. VASUDEVA
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad-580 005, India
Email:
(Received: August, 2009)

References Roby, T. J. and Nair, P. V., 2006, Myristica swamps- An endangered

Bhatia, K. K., 1954, Factors in distribution of teak and a study of teak ecosystem in the Western Ghats. In: Proc. XVIII Kerala Sci.
forests of Madhya Pradesh. Ph.D. Thesis, Sagar Univ. ( India). Cong., India. pp. 386-388.

Chandran, M. D. and Mesta, D. K., 2002, A comparative analysis of Singh, P., Das, Nath, P. K. and Banarjee, S. K., 1990, Characteristics of
regeneration in natural forests and JFM plantations in Uttara teak (Tectona grandis) growing soils in Tarai region of West
Kannada districts, Western Ghats. Cur. Sci., 83(11): 1-24. Bengal. Van Vigyan, 238: 6-15.

Raghu, H. B., Vasudeva, R., Nagesha, G. K., Krishna, H. C., Umashanker, R. and Ganeshaiah, K. N., 1997, Mapping genetic
Hombegowda, H. C., Dasappa and Boby, V. U., 2006, Chemical diversity of Phyllanthus emblica: Forest gene banks as a new
properties of soils from fresh water swamps of Uttara Kannada. approach for in situ conservation of genetic resources. Cur.
Mysore J. Agri. Sci., 40(3): 367 370. Sci., 73(3): 163-168.

602