Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagaon, Assam

The study deals with analysis of soil of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam to understand the physico-chemical properties. The soil is mainly alluvial in nature. The texture varies from sandy and loamy sandy to clay loam. The removal of finer soil particles from the soil surface during rainy season might have contributed to sandy or sandy loam nature, and accumulation of finer soil particles and deposition of clay during flood have resulted in clayey loam nature of soil in different parts of the sanctuary. The soil is acidic in nature with soil pH varying from 4.36-6.86. Logging and grazing have direct effect on physical and chemical conditions of soil, nutrient content and decomposition rate of litter. Organic carbon varies from 0.09- 3.24% and the difference may be attributed to recurrent floods and addition of plant litter and animal remains. In general, different chemical properties of the soil show variations to a great extent. The variation in the chemical content in different parts of the sanctuary may be due to periodic flood, siltation and excessive biotic interferences.