Changes in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus levels due to deforestation and cultivation: A case study in Simlipal National Park, India

The study area, within the Simlipal National Park, India, provides a rare variety of soil sampling sites. These include virgin forests in the proximity of several cultivated areas (where no chemical fertilizers or any modern technology has been used and where periods of cultivation vary from 5 to a little over 100 yr); samples from evergreen forests, deciduous forests and natural grasslands could also be obtained. The availability of numerous such samples made it possible to use statistical methods to evaluate the changes. This study showed that deforestation and cultivation result in statistically significant (P-0.05) reduction in organic C, total N and C:N ratios but no significant changes in total and available P levels; C:P and N:P ratios are also reduced. Loss of organic C and N occurs rapidly in the first 15 yr of cultivation and reaches quasi-steady state values around 1-2% organic C and 0.1-0.2% total N; extent of reduction is not related to initial levels. Significant reduction in C:N, C:P ratios following cultivation suggest that mineralisation losses of C are higher than loss of N whereas loss of P is lowest. Lack of significant correlation between organic C and P levels in all types of soils, suggests that the bulk of the P is in the inorganic form. Highest levels of organic C and N were observed in evergreen forests followed by deciduous forests, grasslands and cultivated areas in that order; total and available P levels, however, showed no significant differences. Evergreen vegetative cover appears to provide the ideal environment for organic matter accumulation.