SMALL CATCHMENT STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF FOREST COVERS BOTH IN NATURAL DEGRADED SHOLA FORESTS AND CONVERTED MAN MADE FORESTS IN THE NILGIRIS ( TAMIL NADU) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RUNOFF, SOIL LOSS , FERTILITY AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY.

Abstract

THE PAPER PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF INVESTIGATIONS ON RUNOFF , SOIL LOSS, SOIL FERTILITY AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY UNDER NATIVE VEGETATION COVER LOCALLY KNOWN AS SHOLA ( THE WET MONTANE TEMPERATE EVERGREEN FORESTS) AND THE CONVERTED MAN- MADE FOREST OF FAST GROWING NATURE SUCH AS BLUE GUM ( EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS), BLACK WATTLE ( ACACIA MEARNSII) AND A MIXTURE OF THE ABOVE TWO PLANTED DURING 1968 . FROM THESE STUDIES, IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT DEGRADED SHOLAS CAN BE PROFITABLY CONVERTED TO RAISE MIXED PLANTATION OF BLUEGUM AND BLACK WATTLE AND IS PREFERABLE TO PURE PLANTATION BOTH FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF TIMBER PRODUCTION AND SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION IN THE NILGIRIS.