Lowland rain forests in the Knuckles range (KR) were heavily deforested since the mid-19th century for cash crop cultivation. To date, only two small forest fragments are exist in the south-west lower slope of KR, known as Moraella and Kosgama. Beside few floristic studies, no comprehensive edaphic study has been done on these forests.This study was carried out in the Moraella forest with the specific objective of studying soil properties and comparing them with already available soil data on lowland rain forest (LRF) at Sinharaja and montane rain forest (MRF) at Knuckles. Eight transects were placed in the forest and each transect consisted of three quadrats (20X10 m) at 20 m intervals. In these quadrats, composite soil samples were collected from five points and soil depth is (0-5 cm). Selected properties of the soil were analyzed according to the Manual of soil sampling and analysis, standard methods at Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy. Results showed that mean total C, Ca, Mg, N, P and pH of the Moraella forest were 4.74±0.18 %, 0.42±0.03 mg/g, 0.31±0.02 mg/g, 0.22±0.04 %, 19±0.84 ppm and 4.20±0.12 respectively. Total C, Ca, Mg, N and P and pH stocks for Moraella is analogous to LRF (3.50%, 0.10 mg/g, 0.16 mg/g, 0.12%, 13.05 ppm, and pH 4.52 respectively) than MRF (9.27%, 0.55 mg/g, 6.70 mg/g, 0.45%,3.69 ppm ,pH 5.40 respectively. The results indicated that most of selected soil parameters of Moraella are comparable with LRF than MRF in the Knuckles range. It is a decent evidence to place Moraella forest in the lowland rain forest category as already shown by previous floristic studies. However, more comparison soil studies would be recommended with sub-montane and semi-evergreen forests in the Knuckles range. Keywords: Moraella Forest, Undisturbed Forest, Soil Physicochemical Properties, Rain Forest, Montane Forest

1. SOIL PROPERTIES OF THE MORAELLA FOREST:
A COMPARISON WITH SELECTED MONTANE AND LOWLAND
RAIN FORESTS IN SRI LANKA
1
K. S. Sivanesan*, W. W. M. A. B. Medawatte, M. C. M. Iqbal
Plant Biology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy

2. INRODUCTION
To date, only two small forest
fragments are exist in the south-west
lower slope of Knuckles Range
(KR), known as Moraella and
Kosgama.
Montane forest
(>1300 m)
Sub-montane forest
(700-1300 m)
Semi-evergreen forest
(<700 m )
Rain forest (< 700 m)

3. According to previous floristic studies,
Plant species 192
Plant genus 62
Endemic plants species 48%
Threaten plant species 23%
71 % of plant species are also reported from other low
land rain forest in southwest, Sri Lanka
Forest is dominated by family Dipterocapaceae
Beside floristic studies, no comprehensive edaphic study has been done on
these forests.
(Medawatte et al., 2011)

4. Objectives
4
1. Investigate soil properties of Moraella forest
2. Comparing soil properties of Moraella forest with already available soil
data on lowland rain forest (LRF) at Sinharaja and montane rain forest
(MRF) at Knuckles (Baillie et al., 2006; Dhakal et al., 2012).

5. Study Area
Moraella forest is located on Kukuloya stream valley in the Panwila Forest Beat
and Divisional Secretariat in Kandy District.
Knuckles Conservation Area
Moraella
forest
5

6. Method
6
Eight transects were placed in the forest and each
transect consisted of three quadrats (20X10 m) at
20 m intervals
In these quadrats, composite soil samples were collected from
five points and soil depth is (0-5 cm).

7. Method
7
Properties of the soil were analyzed
according to the MANUAL OF SOIL
SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS, standard
methods at Institute of Fundamental
Studies, Kandy

8. Result
pH EC TOC TN P Ca Mg CEC
4.20±0.12 30.31±0.74 4.74±0.18 %, 0.22±0.04 % 19±0.84 ppm 0.42±0.03
mg/g
0.31±0.02
mg/g
6.30±0.52
8

9. Discussion
Forest pH TOC TN Ca Mg P
Moraella
4.20±0.1
2
4.74±0.18
%
0.22±0.04
%
0.42±0.03
mg/g
0.31±0.02
mg/g
19±0.84
ppm
Sinharaja
(Baillie et al., 2006)
4.52 3.50 %, 0.12 %, 0.10 mg/g 0.16 mg/g
13.05
ppm
Montane
(Dhakal et al., 2012)
5.40
9.27 %
0.45 % 0.55 mg/g 6.70 mg/g 3.69 ppm
9

10. COMPARE THE SOIL PROPERTIES
20.00
18.00
16.00
14.00
12.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
Ph TOC% TN% Ca (mg/g) Mg (mg/g) P (ppm)
Moraella
Sinharajah
Montane
10

11.  The results indicated that most of selected soil parameters of
Moraella are comparable with LRF in the Sinharaja than MRF in
the Knuckles range.
 This would be a decent evidence to place Moraella forest in the
lowland rain forest category as already shown by previous
floristic studies
11

12. 12
Forest pH TOC TN Ca Mg P
Moraella forest 4.20±0.12
4.74±0.18
%
0.22±0.0
4 %
0.42±0.03
mg/g
0.31±0.02
mg/g
19±0.84
ppm
Sinharaja forest 4.52 3.50 %, 0.12 %, 0.10 mg/g 0.16 mg/g
13.05
ppm
Montane forest in KR 5.40
9.27 %
0.45 % 0.55 mg/g
6.70 mg/g 3.69
ppm
Sub-montane forest in
KR
?
? ?
? ? ?
Semi-evergreen forest
in KR
? ? ? ? ? ?

13. 13
Acknowledge
IFS staffs
THANK YOU