Forest Soil:

The process mentioned above, determine the type of soil that will be formed. For
forest soils in particular, the principal characteristic is the development of an organic
layer on the soil surface, usually referred as forest floor. This particular horizon
contains fresh organic materials from dead plants and animals, that are easily
degraded by microorganisms, especially by bacteria and fung

As the soil depth increase, the availability of organic matter decreases, having as
result a more mineral soil layer

Apart from the Himalayan region, the forest soils occur on Western and Eastern
Ghats as well as in some parts of the Peninsular plateau.

They are especially suitable for plantations of tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits in
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and wheat, maize, barley and temperate fruits in
Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

1. These soils are heterogeneous and their character changes with

mountainous environment and altitude.
2. Rich in humus.
3. Deficient in potash, phosphorus and lime.
4. Suitable for plantation of tea, coffee, spices and tropical fruits.
5. The soil is loamy and silty in valley sides, coarse grained in the upper
slopes.
6. Acidic with low humus content in the snow covered areas.
7. Fertile in the lower parts of the valleys.