B.C. Oraon¹, M.S. Malik¹, Arvind Bijalwan^2,

A study was carried out in soil properties of the plantation area under different Multipurpose Tree species (MPTs) namely Acacia auriculiformis A.cum (ex Benth), Cassia siamea lam and Eucalyptus hybrid in three different agro climatic zone of Jharkhand state of India during 2007-2011 to check the quality of soil improvement and enrichment of soil under multipurpose tree species plantation. Soil samples were collected from different location i.e. Deoghar district in sub zone IV (Central North Eastern Plateau), Ranchi district in sub zone V (Western Plateau) and East Singhbhum district in sub zone VI (South Eastern Plateau) of Jharkhand, India. The soils of the experimental area were acidic in nature, low organic carbon; light textured having low water and nutrient capacity. The seedling was planted during July 2007 at a spacing of 1mx1m. The soil samples were collected initially before the plantation and also after plantation when plantation reached the age of four years. On the basis of results obtained maximum pH was observed in the field of Acacia auriculiformis (5.78) followed by Cassia siamea and Eucalyptus hybrid. Among the agro-climatic zones highest pH was observed in sub zone V as compared to other two zones. Organic Carbon content (%) found maximum in the field of Cassia siamea (0.53%) followed by Acacia auriculiformis and Eucalyptus hybrid. Available nitrogen was found maximum in the field of Cassia siamea (307.44kg/ha) followed by Acacia auriculiformis and Eucalyptus hybrid, whereas maximum available Phosphorus and potassium were observed in the field of Acacia auriculiformis (17.27 and 162.97 kg/ha) followed by Eucalyptus hybrid and Cassia siamea. The value of available nitrogen in soil was in the order Eucalyptus hybrid> Acacia auriculiformis> Cassia siamea whereas available phosphorus and Potassium in soil were in the order of Eucalyptus hybrid> Cassia siamea> Acacia auriculiformis.

soil properties, organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, biomass production, available potassium, Acacia auriculiformis, Cassia siamea, Eucalyptus hybrid, energy plantation