Abstract

Total polysaccharide contents of soil hydrolysates (hexose, mathly hexoses and 6-deoxy hexoses) which react with enthrone were measured in the soils of Jirkatang and Kalatang blocks of South Andaman Islend. The study reveals that the content of carbohydrates is higher at the upper horizons of these soils and it decreases with depth down the profile. Relatively the soils of Jirkstang hava lesser content of carbohydrates than Katatong How- over, when their absorption spectra were compared with the soils of tropical dry deciduous forests the present soits were found to possess groster dispersibility of carbohydrates in them. They also had greater resistance towards electrolytes and as such more susceptibility towards the erotion.

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