Table 5 Variation (%) (difference) in soil properties within 0–20 cm soil depth between cultivated land, Eucalyptus plantation, and open- and bush land as compared to natural and mixed forest in the watershed

Sand (%)

− 44.24 (26.84)*

− 13.19 (8.0)^N.S

− 2.21 (1.34)^N.S

Clay (%)

46.78 (18.16)*

12.67 (3.0)^N.S

− 23.42 (4.84)^N.S

Moisture content (%)

− 12.15^N.S

1.24^N.S

− 6.79^N.S

Bulk density (g cm⁻³)

17.51**

9.42**

14.37**

pH (H₂O)

− 5.49**

− 8.75**

− 8.40**

SOC concentration (%)

− 45.58 (1.67)**

− 34.53 (1.25)**

− 38.39 (1.39)**

SOC stock (Mg ha⁻¹)

− 36.12 (10.7)**

− 27.62 (8.18)**

− 28.36 (8.40)**