One hundred and sixty-eight soil samples were collected from farmers fields, forest plantations, roadsides and canalsides where shisham trees were badly damaged by the dieback. The soil samples were analyzed for their physico-chemical and nutritional properties. The objective was to find out, if any of the unfavourable soil properties or nutritional deficiencies had been the cause of the dieback. About 3 % of the samples were found to be too sandy to retain and supply water to trees over a longer period of time and 60 % samples were too clayey to permit free movement of air and water. About one third of the samples were deficient only in zinc while other nutrients (P, K, Cu, Mn, and Fe) were in adequate amount to support plant growth.

Key words: Soil characteristics, nutrients, dieback, shisham tree.