Soil nutrients as influenced by different natural vegetation types in the Western Ghats Region of Kerala, India - factor analysis.

摘要

The soil aggrading factor and nutrient and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were identified through factor analysis of soil nutrient distribution pattern in three natural vegetation types: evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests in Kerala, India. The two factors together accounted for 71% (55.16 % soil aggrading factor and 15.68% CEC) of the total variation in the twelve selected soil properties. Results indicated that the model is suitable for assessing the soil status in evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests in Kerala.